Youth participation in politics is very important for Latvia’s future / Diena

Mieriņa expressed confidence that members of the Youth Saeima will be the next statesmen and stateswomen, and said that in the future they will sit in the Saeima’s hall, and this historical moment will recall the first steps in politics.

“I’m glad that with your desire and enthusiasm you have shown that you are interested in the processes and politics taking place in the country,” said Mieriņa, stressing that it is important to involve the widest possible circle of society in decision-making: “The more widely people discuss, the better the decisions made will be of higher quality.”

Also, Mieriņa emphasized that a strong politician is one who achieves his justice always and everywhere in a constructive and reasoned way. The Speaker of the Saeima wished young people to start their careers unhurriedly and confidently: “Then you will understand the “real clothes” and the fact that things are not as simple as they often seem. I wish you a decent job and opportunities to show yourself,” said the Speaker of the Saeima , calling on young people to passionately defend their ideas.

Today, the 11th Youth Saeima gathers in the parliament. It is brought closer to the real work of the parliament – the process of drafting laws in commissions and Saeima sessions. The Youth Saeima promotes the civic involvement of young people in making important decisions, gives them the opportunity to express and defend their ideas from the podium of the parliament, as well as to get to know the everyday life of the members more closely.

Today, young people gather both in meetings and work in four commissions. In the second half of the day, young people will discuss the ideas supported by the commissions and their inclusion in the declaration of the 11th Youth Saeima. The sessions of the 11th Youth Saeima are chaired by the Speaker of the Saeima Mieriņa and the co-chairwoman Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica (JV), while Edmunds Cepurītis (P), Igors Rajevs, Leila Rasima (P) and Agita Zariņa-Stūre (JV) are in the working committees.

Celebrating 20 years since Latvia has been a member of the European Union and NATO, the motto of the 11th Youth Saeima is future-oriented – “Latvia after 20 years”. In 20 years, today’s youth will be leading the country. Young people are invited to think about how the decisions made today, the education system, investment in national security and other conditions will affect the way we will live in Latvia in 2044.

100 members of the Youth Saeima were elected in a public vote, and all regions of Latvia are represented in the project. This year, 39 young people from Riga electoral district, 20 – from Vidzeme, 14 – from Latgale, 15 – from Zemgale and 12 – from Kurzeme electoral district entered. Diaspora youths are also elected.