On 23 January, President of Latvia Egils Levits met with PROGRESSIVES parliamentary group members elected to the 14th Saeima to discuss current legislative priorities.
Meeting between Egils Levits and Progressive parliamentarians focused on President’s plans to prepare changes in the party financing law with a view of strengthening intra-party expertise. President urged parliamentarians to work on balanced and ‘European’ collective memory and democratic awareness policy promoted by a new dedicated centre.
Members of Progressives parliamentary group emphasised the importance of enforcement of Constitutional Court judgements regarding civil partnerships and minimum income to President Levits.
President of Latvia and Progressive MPs share similar vision regarding support for research activities and research-driven innovations. President promised to keep advocating for doubling of science funding and increase of base funding to 50% of total research, development and innovations budget. This will ensure financial sustainability of research institutes and make it easier for them to attract and train research and academic staff. Members of the Progressives welcome coalition’s decision to increase science funding to 1.5% in the next several years and will closely monitor how these funds are actually spent.
Meeting also focused on principles of good public governance and how these standards would improve management of state-owned enterprises.
