Saeima defence committee members will need state security clearance

Members of Latvia’s parliamentary committee on defence, internal affairs and corruption prevention will need state security clearance under amendments passed by the Saeima on Thursday, LSM reported. The parliament approved the changes to the National Security Law in a final reading under an expedited procedure.

The amendments will take effect when the 15th Saeima convenes. The explanatory note says the committee regularly considers defence, national security, mobilisation and border protection matters, as well as other issues that require access to classified information. Members of the Saeima’s National Security Committee are already subject to the same requirement.

A member elected to the committee without clearance will be able to take part in its work only after receiving it. The Saeima must also review the need for the clearance requirement at least once every five years, taking into account the risk and intensity of threats to the state and geopolitical changes.