Latvian MPs urge government to fund Manabalss platform

Latvia’s parliamentary Mandates, Ethics and Submissions Committee has agreed to ask the government to find at least 150,000 euros for the civic participation platform Manabalss.lv next year, LSM reported.

The platform’s representatives told the committee that its continued operation is at risk as donations have fallen significantly in recent years. They are seeking 370,000 euros for next year to carry out their plans, and expect to receive about 100,000 euros in donations.

Platform director Imants Breidaks said the requested funding would cover, among other things, salaries and security measures. Last year, Manabalss.lv received 150,000 euros in state funding through a one-off allocation by MPs, but the sum covered about a year of operations. The funding is due to run out on January 25.

Culture Ministry parliamentary secretary Ivars Āboliņš said the platform was important for democracy, but the ministry had no money available to provide it. He said the 150,000 euros was the minimum needed for a short-term solution.

Committee members also backed strengthening the platform’s funding over the longer term. Committee chair Jānis Vucāns said legislation could assign responsibility for funding the platform to a government department, which could then include it in its budget planning. The matter will be referred to the Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee.

Manabalss.lv enables residents to submit initiatives. Those that collect at least 10,000 signatures are considered by the parliamentary committee.