The Saeima and the coalition are divided by the interpretation of family

Today, the Saeima, which embodies the ideological sympathy and ideals of the electorate, will vote on the proposal of the National Alliance (Nacionālā Apvienība) to amend the core law of the state in order to constitutionally strengthen the concept of a female and male family. Whether the proposal is destined to reach the responsible committees can be decided by the vote of even one Member, as supporters and non-supporters of the initiative have divided the parliament into two almost equal parts.

In the opinion of the National Alliance that submitted the amendment proposal, the concept of family needs to be more clearly defined in the national core law. Such a need, in their opinion, arose after the judgment of the Constitutional Court pronounced on November 12, which in the concept of the family also includes “same-sex partner families” and imposes on the state “the obligation to protect and support” them. The party, which has long protected the conservative values, believes that this is "an arbitrary interpretation of the concept of family, which does not correspond to the will of the legislator or the Latvian society's understanding of what a family is."

The submitted draft law proposes to establish in Article 110 of the Constitution that the state protects and supports marriage - a union between a man and a woman, a family based on marriage, kinship or adoption, the rights of parents and rights of children, including the right to grow up in a family based on mother (woman) and father (man). The State shall provide special support to disabled children, children left without parental care or who have suffered from violence.

In order for the amendments to the Constitution to enter into legal force, they must be supported by at least two-thirds - 67 deputies of the Saeima in the third final reading. It is unlikely that the initiative will receive such widespread support, as it is opposed by the largest faction of the Saeima - Harmony (Latvian: Saskaņa), as well as New Unity (Jaunā Vienotība) and Development/For! (Attīstībai/Par!). A total of 41 votes. It is also not yet clear whether the initiative will reach the commissions, which require a simple majority in the vote. It will be decided by the few non-attached Members.

At least half of the Saeima supports it

The proposal of the National Alliance will also be supported by the New Conservative Party (Jaunā konservatīvā partija), KPV LV, at least four independent deputies united by Aldis Gobzems, and the majority of the Union of Greens and Farmers (Zaļo un Zemnieku Savienība). These forces could have 50 votes if all deputies participate in the Saeima sitting.

The board of ZZS has agreed: the organization advocates that the term “family” can be explained only as a union formed by the spouses of two sexes - male and female - in a joint household with their children. "It is included in the core of the Constitution and is one of the main principles of the constitutional system of the Latvian state," the majority of the party association believes.

Uldis Augulis, the leader of the ZZS Saeima faction, does not agree with them. "Family as such cannot be defined, marriage can be defined," says the politician,

who, as a former Minister of Welfare, is also concerned about what could legally happen to an unadopted child if his biological parent dies but his spouse has not adopted the offspring.

Conservatives, who feel a little jealous that the National Alliance was the first to come up with amendments to the Constitution, will support them and assumes that they will be improved as a result of the discussion.

"The Conservative Party will vote for the submission of amendments to the Constitution to the commissions. This is only logical, and we thank the conservative public for their strong support for strengthening conservative values ​​in Latvia. We want to hand over the draft law to the commissions, where this version could be discussed and possibly improved, and then we will look further at whether there is support in the Saeima. The specific draft law is good to at least begin the discussion,” says Krišjānis Feldmans, Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Saeima faction.

Some votes short

Of course, the Saeima faction Development/For!, whose leader Marija Golubeva has never hidden her being a part of the LGBT community, will vote against the initiative of the National Alliance. The organization believes that the proposed changes aim to create a privileged position for certain forms of family.

In this matter, there is no disagreement from the New Unity. It also considers the National Alliance's proposal to be useless and divisive.

The list of political forces that clearly define their position, forming a group of 41 deputies, concludes with Harmony, which has already called the National Alliance's initiative "hypocritical amendments", which the alliance is using for this year's municipal election campaign.

“The decision of the Constitutional Court can be interpreted differently, but it is a treat for the nationals who can now show off as the main guardians of traditional values. With all the methods developed to perfection - splitting, opposing, and inciting society. It is quite clear that the Saeima does not have sufficient support for the National Alliance's draft amendments to the Constitution, but they will be able to dance around it, inciting evil and hatred [..] Harmony believes that empathy rather than hatred makes the world better,” says the statement of the Harmony Saeima faction.