Pleps says Latvian voters demand more of MPs

Latvian voters are demanding of the MPs they elect, and serving in parliament is becoming increasingly difficult, constitutional law expert Jānis Pleps said in an interview with LTV’s Rīta Panorāma, LSM reported.

Voters are more engaged than they may appear, Pleps said. He pointed to the Manabalss.lv platform, where support for proposals is gathered quickly and MPs take notice. Deputies also respond to issues and criticism raised on social media, he said, with some topics becoming legislative initiatives or matters for discussion within a week.

The United List’s 41 seats in the 100-member 15th Saeima represent the largest number of seats won by a single political force in parliament so far, Pleps said. He said that result changes the political dynamic, allowing for a minority government or a government with one coalition partner, who could be replaced.

In Latvia’s parliamentary system, the government is formed and supported by a parliamentary majority, which implements its programme, Pleps said. He added that the work of the parliamentary minority would be important: opposition MPs can introduce bills, establish parliamentary investigative committees and appeal to the Constitutional Court, but these steps require a certain number of votes and therefore cooperation among opposition deputies.

Pleps said opposition scrutiny can improve the majority’s work. He also urged MPs not to amend laws so frequently, arguing that legislation should be given more time to work before changes are made.