How Latvian Citizens Can Support Legislative Initiatives from the UK

Main details for residents

Latvian citizens, including the significant diaspora residing in the United Kingdom, possess a powerful constitutional tool to influence their home country’s governance. By supporting initiatives registered with the Central Election Commission (CVK), voters can directly propose amendments to the Constitution, introduce new laws, or even initiate a process to recall the Saeima (the Latvian Parliament). This democratic mechanism allows the electorate to bypass traditional legislative hurdles if a sufficient threshold of public support is met.

Under the Latvian Constitution (Satversme), if at least one-tenth of the electorate—roughly 155,000 citizens—signs a fully developed draft law or constitutional amendment within a 12-month window, the President is required to submit it to Parliament. If Parliament rejects or alters the proposal, it may then proceed to a national referendum. For those living abroad, exercising this right is a primary way to maintain a civic connection to Latvia and impact national policy from afar.

To participate in any active initiative, a citizen must be at least 18 years of age and hold a valid Latvian passport or eID card. There are several ways to provide a legally binding signature:

• Digital Signing: The most accessible method for those in the UK is the official portal, Latvija.lv. Users should note that the State Digital Development Agency occasionally reports technical maintenance; if an error message appears during the e-service process, voters are advised to return to the first step and restart the application.
• Consular Services: Citizens can sign in person at the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in London or other diplomatic and consular missions where notarial functions are performed. A valid ID is mandatory for this process.
• In-Person in Latvia: For those visiting Latvia, signatures are accepted at municipal residency declaration offices, through sworn notaries, or at orphan courts that perform notarial acts.

The 12-month signing period begins the day the CVK registers the initiative. Currently active petitions, as well as those that have concluded or been rejected, are listed on the CVK website. This transparent process ensures that every citizen, regardless of their current country of residence, has a seat at the legislative table.

Source: Ventspils novada pašvaldība

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