Smiltēns calls for freeze on divisive Istanbul Convention debate

United List politician Edvards Smiltēns said the next Latvian government should put divisive issues such as the Istanbul Convention on hold, LSM reported.

Speaking in a Latvian Television discussion after the 15th Saeima election, Smiltēns said it was unwise to debate matters that could deepen divisions while the government was trying to stabilise the situation. “We put a moratorium on such issues and freeze them,” he said.

He said the government’s priorities would be the economy, preparing next year’s state budget and reducing public spending.

Last October, parliament passed a law to denounce the Istanbul Convention. President Edgars Rinkēvičs did not promulgate it and sent it back to parliament for a second review. The decision was left to the next Saeima.

Turnout in the 15th Saeima election was 807,067 voters, or 51.81% of those eligible. Preliminary results showed the United List had won the election.