On November 5, representatives of civil society and media organizations, in a joint letter, called on the President of Latvia not to allow the exclusion of the public representative from the Public Electronic Media Council (SEPLP). The proposals submitted to the Saeima to remove the society-nominated representative contradicted the essence of the law and would have endangered the independence of public media, the principle of public participation, and trust in democratic processes. The Saeima majority rejected these proposals during the Saeima session on November 6.
In the letter, organizations and members of the SEPLP candidate selection commission remind that the law provides for a three-pillar model, in which one SEPLP board member is nominated by the President, one by the Saeima, and the third – by society, based on a decision of the Council for the Implementation of the Cooperation Memorandum between NGOs and the Cabinet of Ministers (the Memorandum Council). This selection principle ensures balanced representation, professional governance, and reduces the risks of political influence on public media.
“We see this situation in a broader context – alongside the Saeima’s decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention and the active involvement of the public in this issue. In addition, attempts to discredit NGOs and diminish the role of civil society have been observed in the public sphere, which, together with politically motivated pressure on media independence, creates a risk of undermining democratic principles and weakening public trust. These overlapping trends indicate the need for open and responsible dialogue to preserve democratic values, the rule of law, and the principles of civic participation,” the letter states.
The authors of the letter emphasize that the selection of the candidate nominated by the Memorandum Council took place through an open and transparent competition, ensuring a professional and objective evaluation.
On the same day the Saeima rejected the proposals to remove the society-nominated candidate from the SEPLP, 6 November, protests took place in Riga and elsewhere in Latvia, as well as in several foreign countries, against the Saeima’s decision for Latvia to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention. The protest in Dome Square was organized by the Centre “Marta” , calling to stand against violence and respect for human rights. A video livestream of the protest is available here. The Civic Alliance – Latvia calls on the public currently to support civil society organizations with donations, your voice, or participation.
Photo: artist Haralds Saknītis, protest at Dome Square