Progresīvie proposes Saeima budget audits and femicide legal reforms

The opposition party ‘Progresīvie’ has submitted two separate legislative proposals to the Saeima aimed at increasing accountability and legal protections in Latvia.

One proposal seeks to amend the Law on the State Audit Office to allow the State Audit Office to conduct financial, efficiency, and compliance audits of the Saeima’s budget. The party argues that Latvia is among the few European nations where legislative spending is not subject to public oversight. If passed, the new regulations would take effect on January 1, 2027, aiming to increase transparency and public trust in how parliamentary resources are utilized.

A second proposal seeks to amend the Criminal Law to classify femicide as murder under ‘especially aggravated circumstances.’ The party defines femicide as the killing of a woman based on her gender or gender-related motives, often involving long-term violence and gender stereotypes. By integrating this into Article 118 of the Criminal Law, the party aims to strengthen legal protections for women and align Latvian law with international standards seen in countries like Spain and Italy.