Speaker of the Saeima Ināra Mūrniece visits the Constitutional Court
On Tuesday, 8 September, Speaker of the Saeima Ināra Mūrniece visited the Constitutional Court in the framework of the dialogue between the Constitutional Court and the Saeima. The Speaker of the Saeima and the delegation headed by her was welcomed by President of the Constitutional Court Ineta Ziemele and the Justices of Constitutional Court: Sanita Osipova, Gunārs Kusiņš, Jānis Neimanis and Artūrs Kučs. The Speaker of the Saeima and the Justices of the Constitutional Court discussed topical constitutional law issues, inter alia, the enforcement of the Constitutional Court’s Judgements and the upcoming centenary of the Satversme of the Republic of Latvia (hereafter – the Satversme).
The Constitutional Court’s President commenced the conversation by expressing gratitude to the Speaker of the Saeima for the dialogue between the two constitutional bodies, which had been reinforced during recent years and was very necessary for the effective functioning of the state in the information age. She highlighted the added value of the collaboration thus far, which had deepened the awareness on both sides of the practical aspects in the work of these state institutions.
Speaker of the Saeima Ināra Mūrniece expressed her high regard for the Constitutional Court’s work and used the opportunity to highlight the contribution by the Constitutional Court’s Justices also to the publication of the edition “Commentaries on the Satversme of the Republic of Latvia. Chapter II “The Saeima””.
Focusing on the recent rulings delivered by the Constitutional Court, the Court’s President mentioned three groups of rulings. Namely, the most recent judgements with respect to the right to social security (No. 2019-24-03, No. 2019-27-03, No. 2019-25-03), two last rulings pertaining to the reform of the system of education (No. 2019-12-01, 2019-20-03) as well as the numerous cases, initiated on the basis of applications submitted by the courts of general jurisdiction, with respect to the rules on the supply and use of natural gas (Nr. 2019-10-0103).
Speaking about the enforcement of these rulings by the Constitutional Court, the President of the Constitutional Court underscored the need to analyse in the work of the Saeima’s Committees the numerous findings expressed in the Constitutional Court’s judgements, which are based on the rich range of opinions, summarised in case files, and the documents submitted.
The Justices and the Speaker of the Saeima discussed also the systemic problems, identified in the Constitutional Court’s judgements pertaining to the right to social security. The parties agreed that the system of social security should be based on defined concrete needs and values. It should help to overcome a situation of crisis and provide incentives for the inhabitants to return to the labour market.
Continuing the discussion of the topical constitutional law issues the Constitutional Court’s Justices drew the Speaker’s attention to the fact that the complexity of the contemporary legal system and legal relations was increasing. The number and the complexity of cases, heard by the Constitutional Court, are significantly growing, therefore the issue of probable improvements to the legal proceedings before the Constitutional Court and broadening the Court’s competence has gained relevance.
At the conclusion of the conversation, the Constitutional Court’s President invited the Speaker of the Saeima to collaborate in the planning of events to mark the centenary of the Satversme. The parties agreed that it was worth proposing initiatives that would raise public awareness of the fundamental values included in the Satversme and explain their importance in the development of Latvia as a democratic state governed by the rule of law.
The Constitutional Court’s President thanked the Speaker of the Saeima and presented to her the new publication of the Satversme in three languages as well as the catalogue of the works submitted for the competition of pupils’ drawings and essays “Freedom and Responsibility. The Constitutional Court in Conversation with Latvia’s Pupils”.