Latvian president returns administrative liability law amendments to parliament

President Edgars Rinkēvičs has sent amendments to Latvia’s Administrative Liability Law back to the Saeima, the country’s parliament, for reconsideration, LSM reported on Tuesday. He said the law, adopted on October 8, contains significant shortcomings and does not reflect decisions made earlier by the parliamentary committee responsible for the bill.

During the bill’s final reading, the Saeima rejected several proposals that the committee had previously approved, reverting to wording supported at the second reading, the president said.

Rinkēvičs pointed to problems in the amendments’ transitional provisions. One provision duplicates a rule already in force, while another refers to changes that the Saeima did not approve in the final reading.

He also urged lawmakers to consider whether removing specific rules for enforcing fines at a reduced amount serves the interests of the state and society. The president said the law should protect the legal order and public interests, ensure effective proceedings for administrative offences, and provide fair resolution of legal relations while respecting fundamental rights.

Rinkēvičs requested the law’s reconsideration under Article 71 of Latvia’s Constitution.