Latvian parliament restricts lawmakers' parliamentary immunity

Latvian lawmakers on Thursday passed legislative amendments that will allow penalizing MPs for administrative offenses without the parliament's consent.

The parliament passed the amendments to the Latvian constitution unanimously and without debating.

The new legislation will allow the authorities to call MPs to account for administrative offenses like speeding or driving without valid roadworthiness certificate without asking the parliament's permission.

Until now, such permission had to be requested each time.

The constitutional amendments was proposed by the opposition Latvian Association of Regions, whose representatives argued that lawmakers' administrative immunity was too broad and pointless in a democratic society as it usually applies to petty offenses.

The parliament made sure, however, that the public is kept informed of the administrative penalties imposed on lawmakers, as the parliament mandates the ethics and submissions committee was responsible for reporting such cases at parliament sessions. Endit