The Saeima¹ has adopted and
the President has proclaimed the following law:

On National Referendums, Legislative Initiatives and European Citizens' Initiative

[20 September 2012]

Chapter I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. A national referendum shall be organised if:

1) the Saeima has amended Article 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 or 77 of the Constitution;

2) the President has initiated the dissolution of the Saeima;

3) the President has suspended publication of a law for two months and during these two months a request of at least one tenth of voters has been received to pass the suspended law for a national referendum;

4) the Saeima has not adopted without amendments to the content a draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution lodged by at least one tenth of voters;

5) the issue on participation of Latvia in the European Union is on the agenda;

6) the issue on material changes in the conditions on participation of Latvia in the European Union is on the agenda and it is requested by at least one half of the members of the Saeima;

7) at least one tenth of voters has initiated the revocation of the Saeima.

[8 May 2003; 8 November 2012]

Section 1.¹ This Law also governs the European citizens' initiative insofar as Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 on the citizens' initiative does not stipulate otherwise.

[20 September 2012]

Section 2. All citizens of Latvia who have the right to elect the Saeima are entitled to participate in national referendums and legislative initiatives.

Section 3. (1) A national referendum shall be prepared and administered in accordance with the procedures laid down in law by the Central Election Commission which shall also issue the necessary instructions.

(2) [8 November 2012]

[8 November 2012]

Chapter II
ORGANISATION OF NATIONAL REFERENDUMS

Section 4. (1) For the law adopted by the Saeima on amendments to Article 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 or 77 of the Constitution to come into legal force, it shall be passed for a national referendum.

(2) National referendum on such law adopted by the Saeima shall be organised not earlier than one month and not later than two months after adopting the law in the Saeima.

[8 May 2003]

Section 5. (1) If the President has initiated the dissolution of the Saeima, he or she shall notify the Central Election Commission thereof.

(2) National referendum for such initiative of the President shall be organised not earlier than one month and not later than two months after announcement of the initiative to the Central Election Commission.

Section 6. (1) If the President has suspended publication of a law, he or she shall, in accordance with the procedures for the proclamation of laws, notify the text of the suspended law and the decision to suspend the publication of the law not later than on the 11^th day counting from the adoption of the law in the Saeima.

(2) After such notification, the Central Election Commission shall notify all local government election commissions that signature collection for the initiation of a national referendum is being commenced, and shall deliver signature sheets thereto.

[8 May 2003; 21 February 2008; 17 July 2008; 3 December 2020]

Section 7. (1) The Central Election Commission shall set a time limit of thirty days when the signature sheets where voters may sign are available in the places designated by each local government council. Such days shall be determined in sequence, excluding from the time limit the days of the Saeima, the European Parliament, local government council elections or a national referendum and days when the signature collection for a national referendum is not permissible.

(2) The places where voters may sign shall be arranged in each local government so that there would be at least one place per 10 000 voters where voters may sign.

(3) [8 November 2012]

(4) Not later than three days before the beginning of the time limit for signature collection referred to in Paragraph one of this Section, the local government election commission shall determine their working hours when voters will be able to sign the signature sheets in the places designated by the respective council. Working hours shall not be less than four hours a day, also on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

(5) The respective council shall ensure that notifications on places and time for signature collection are placed at the respective council building (or at information centres) and at the signature collection places, as well as published in the informative publication of the local government, but in the absence of any - in another local newspaper.

(6) The voters who stay abroad during signature collection may sign the signature sheets in the embassies, general consulates and consular offices of the Republic of Latvia. The places and time for signature collection of signatures shall be determined by the head of the respective mission.

[26 July 1995; 8 May 2003; 6 April 2006; 21 February 2008; 17 July 2008; 8 November 2012; 3 December 2020]

Section 7.¹ (1) If a voter wishes to sign the signature sheet, but is not able to arrive at the signature collection place due to the state of health, the election commission shall, on the basis of a written submission of such voter or his or her authorised person, organise the signature collection at the location of the voter. The submission shall be delivered to the respective election commission or signature collector not later than at 12.00 on the 29^th day of the signature collection (during the working hours determined by the election commission). Submissions shall be registered in a special log. The election commission shall organise the signature collection at the locations of voters on the final day of the signature collection.

(2) For the suspects, accused or defendants on whom arrest has been imposed as a security measure, the signature collection shall be organised in accordance with the procedures laid down in Paragraph one of this Section. Submissions of such voters shall be delivered to the respective election commission by the administration of the institution.

[21 February 2008; 10 April 2014]

Section 7.² (1) In order to ensure the soldiers and national guardsmen who fulfil service in international military operations with the possibility to sign the signature sheets, the Central Election Commission shall, not later than seven days before the beginning of the time limit for signature collection referred to in Section 7, Paragraph one of this Law, send the signature sheets to the National Armed Forces for transfer to a person authorised by the Commander of the National Armed Forces.

(2) After receipt of the signature sheets in the areas of international military operations, the person authorised by the Commander of the National Armed Forces shall, taking into account the time limit of thirty days when the voters can sign the signature sheets, notify the soldiers and national guardsmen of the time and place for signature collection in the area of international military operation.

(3) The person authorised by the Commander of the National Armed Forces shall specify in the signature sheets the given name, surname, personal identity number of the signatory, and also the date when each signatory signed the initiative of a national referendum.

(4) When the signature collection has been completed, the signature sheets shall be immediately sent to the Joint Headquarters of the National Armed Forces for transfer to the Central Election Commission.

[10 April 2014]

Section 8. (1) The signature sheets shall, according to the entry in the passport of a citizen of Latvia, specify the given name, surname, personal identity number of the signatory and also the date when each signatory signed the initiative of a national referendum.

(2) If a handicap prevents a voter from signing the signature sheet himself or herself, his or her family member or any other person whom the voter trusts shall sign in the list in the presence of such voter, upon his or her oral instruction. A relevant note shall be made in the list thereon.

[8 May 2003; 21 February 2008]

Section 9. (1) Signature sheets shall be closed by the seal and signature of the chairperson of the respective local government election commission confirming that the signature collection has taken place in accordance with the procedures laid down in law.

(2) Upon expiry of the time limit for signature collection determined by the Central Election Commission, the local government election commission shall send the signature sheets to the Central Election Commission in accordance with the procedures determined thereby.

[17 July 2008; 3 December 2020]

Section 10. (1) The Central Election Commission shall, upon expiry of the time limit for signature collection, count the signatures, establish the result, report it to the President and publish it in the official gazette Latvijas Vēstnesis. If the initiative of a national referendum has been signed by at least one tenth of the number of the citizens of Latvia with the voting rights at the last Saeima elections, the Central Election Commission shall proclaim a national referendum within three days.

(2) A national referendum on the cancellation of the suspended law shall be organised not earlier than one month and not later than two months after the date of proclamation thereof.

[8 May 2003; 8 November 2012]

Section 11. (1) If the Saeima has not adopted the draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution lodged by at least one tenth of voters without amendments to the content, such draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution lodged by voters shall be passed for a national referendum.

(2) A national referendum on the draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution lodged by voters shall be organised not earlier than one month and not later than two months after the Saeima has rejected the draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution lodged by voters or adopted it with amendments to the content.

(3) The issue on participation of Latvia in the European Union shall be resolved by a national referendum.

(4) The Saeima shall initiate a national referendum on material changes in the conditions on participation of Latvia in the European Union if it is requested by at least one half of the members of the Saeima.

(5) A national referendum shall be organised if in accordance with the procedures laid down in Chapter IV.² of this Law at least one tenth of the voters has initiated the revocation of the Saeima.

[8 May 2003; 8 November 2012 / See Paragraphs 2, 9, 11 and 12 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 12. (1) The date of a national referendum shall be determined and notified by the Central Election Commission, except for the cases referred to in Section 11, Paragraphs one, three, four and five of this Law, when it shall be determined and notified by the Saeima.

(2) A national referendum shall be organised on Saturday.

[8 May 2003; 8 November 2012]

Chapter III
VOTING AND COUNTING OF VOTES

Section 13. (1) Voting shall take place by secret ballot, in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Central Election Commission, with ballot papers.

(2) Ballot papers shall be prepared by the Central Election Commission.

Section 14. (1) The matter handed over for a national referendum (Section 1 of this Law), as well as the words "for" and "against" shall be written on each ballot paper. Upon organising a national referendum on the issues referred to in Section 1, Clauses 5 and 6 of this Law, the wording of the relevant issue shall be drafted by the Saeima.

(2) If a simultaneous national referendum takes place in several cases referred to in Section 1 of this Law, the ballot papers must be different.

[8 May 2003]

Section 15. (1) Voting shall take place from 7.00 a.m. until 8.00 p.m. local time. The Central Election Commission in each city, except for Rīga, Daugavpils and Liepāja, as well as the local election commission in each municipality may determine one polling station where the election shall take place till 10.00 p.m. Rīga City Election Commission may determine four, Daugavpils City Election Commission - two and Liepāja City Election Commission - two such polling stations.

(2) At 7.00 a.m. the chairperson or the secretary of the election commission shall, in the presence of the commission, verify that the ballot boxes allotted for depositing ballot papers are empty. Afterwards the ballot boxes shall be sealed.

(3) Without disturbing the work of the commission, the course of voting in the polling station may be observed by not more than two authorised observers from each political party or association of political parties, as well as the members of the Central Election Commission and relevant local government election commission and the authorised persons of such commissions, mass media representatives.

[8 May 2003; 4 September 2003; 17 July 2008; 8 November 2012; 3 December 2020]

Section 16. (1) Each voter shall cast a vote in person. If a physical handicap prevents a voter from voting or signing the electoral roll himself or herself, the notes in the ballot paper shall be entered or the electoral roll shall be signed by the family member of the voter or any other person whom the voter trusts in the presence of the voter, upon his or her oral instruction. A relevant note shall be made in the electoral roll regarding this. Such person may not be a member of the relevant polling station commission.

(2) The voter shall be free to cast his or her vote at any polling station.

(3) On the day of voting, soldiers shall be given a leave of absence for the time required for voting.

[3 September 1998]

Section 17. (1) In the polling premises, the polling station commission shall first make sure that a person is a voter and his or her passport does not contain the note on participation in the relevant national referendum and shall issue the ballot paper to him or her sealed with the seal of the respective commission of the polling station. After the ballot paper has been issued, the voters given name, surname and personal identity number shall be written in the electoral roll, and the voters passport shall be stamped indicating that he or she has participated in the national referendum. The voter shall sign the electoral list confirming the receipt of the ballot paper.

(2) A separate room or compartment shall be provided inside the polling station for the voter to make his or her choice in privacy, upon his or her own choice, putting the mark "+" opposite the desirable answer "for" or "against".

(3) When the voter has entered the necessary marks in the ballot paper, he or she shall fold the ballot paper and insert it into the ballot box in the presence of the member of the polling station commission.

(4) On the polling day after 8.00 p.m. the ballot papers may be placed only by those voters who were in the polling premises prior to 8.00 p.m. After that polling premises shall be closed.

[3 September 1998; 8 May 2003; 18 September 2003; 8 November 2012]

Section 18. (1) If separate voters due their state of health are unable to come to the election premises, the polling station commission shall, on the basis of a written submission from such voters or their authorised persons registered in a special log, organise voting at the location of such voter, ensuring a secret ballot. Specially authorised observers are entitled to supervise such voting.

(2) Voting at the location of voters shall be organised also for the carers of the persons referred to in Paragraph one of this Section, as well as other persons who are ill if they have timely submitted a written submission for voting at their location.

(3) [26 February 2009]

(4) Voting of other voters outside the election premises shall not be permissible.

(5) The polling station commission shall continue to accept written submissions on the polling day for voting at the location of the voter. Submissions accepted after 12.00 noon shall be satisfied by the polling station commission if it is possible to arrive at the location of voters until 10.00 p.m.

(6) Voters who in accordance with Paragraphs one, two and three of this Section vote at their location shall be entered in a separate electoral roll and the ballot papers shall be inserted in a separate sealed box.

(7) Data on ballot papers issued for voting at the location of voters and left over, including damaged papers, shall be entered in the minutes of the election procedures.

[8 May 2003; 18 September 2003; 26 February 2009; 10 April 2014]

Section 19. (1) [8 May 2003]

(2) Votes shall be counted in an open sitting of the polling station commission in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Central Election Commission.

[3 September 1998; 8 May 2003]

Section 20. (1) Voters who are staying abroad during the voting shall vote in the polling stations established by the Central Election Commission, upon proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Latvia, or by post. Upon agreeing thereupon with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central Election Commission may establish polling stations also in other premises suitable for that purpose.

(2) If a national referendum is held simultaneously with the Saeima or the European Parliament elections, voting abroad shall take place in all polling stations set up in accordance with the procedures laid down by law.

(3) Voters who are abroad during the voting may also vote by post. Voting by post shall take place in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Law on the Election of the Saeima.

(4) For persons on whom arrest has been imposed as a security measure or who serve a custodial sentence, voting shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures for the participation of such persons in the election of the Saeima as laid down in the Law on the Election of the Saeima.

(5) The soldiers and national guardsmen who fulfil service duties in international military operations may participate in a national referendum in the area of the corresponding international operation, provided that it is possible to ensure the compliance with the conditions of this Law. The Central Election Commission shall, not later than on the 12^th day before the national referendum day, send the forms of the lists of voters, ballot papers, the seal of the relevant polling station commission and the ballot box to the National Armed Forces for the transfer to a person authorised by the Commander of the National Armed Forces. Voting shall take place in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Law on the Election of the Saeima for participation in the election of the Saeima of soldiers and national guardsmen who fulfil service duties in international military operations.

[3 September 1998; 8 May 2003; 6 April 2006; 26 February 2009; 10 April 2014]

Section 20.¹ (1) The following shall be deemed as invalid:

1) torn ballot papers;

2) ballot papers, which are not sealed with the stamp of the relevant polling station commission;

3) ballot papers where both the answers "for" and "against" are marked;

4) ballot papers where neither the answer "for" nor the answer "against" is marked.

(2) The election commission shall resolve the disagreements regarding the validity of ballot papers by majority vote. In the event of a tied vote, the chairperson of the commission shall have the casting vote.

[3 September 1998]

Section 21. During the election, the chairperson of the polling station commission shall supervise the order in the electoral premises. He or she shall ascertain that restrictions of freedom to election and disturbances to order as well as campaigns do not occur in the electoral premises and closer than 50 metres from the entrance to the building where the polling station is located.

[8 May 2003]

Chapter IV
LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE

Section 22. (1) Not less than one tenth of voters have the right to submit to the Central Election Commission a fully drawn-up draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution, indicating their given name, surname, personal identity number and the date of signing. The draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution may be submitted within 12 months from the date when the draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution have been registered with the Central Election Commission.

(2) Within these 12 months, each signature of a voter must be certified by a sworn notary, at the local government institution for the declaration of a place of residence, the Orphan's and Custody Court which is performing notarial activities. in a municipality by the head of a rural territory [pagasts] or town administration or at diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Latvia in foreign countries by the consular official who is entitled to perform notarial functions. Certified signatures shall be collected on a signature sheet approved by the Central Election Commission. The person who certifies a signature shall save the information regarding signing in the online signature collection system of the Central Election Commission in accordance with the procedures laid down by the Central Election Commission.

(3) The fee for the certification of a signature in respect to signature collection on the draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution shall be determined in the Orphan's and Custody Court or local government authority by taking into account the direct administrative costs of certification of the signature, however, not more than half of the sum laid down in law for the certification of authenticity of a signature in the Orphan's and Custody Court.

(4) If identification of signatories and personal data protection is ensured, the signatures may also be collected electronically through the single State and local government service portal (www.latvija.lv) or another online system chosen by the initiative group for the respective purpose. The owner (administrator) of the single State and local government service portal shall not collect fee from signatories.

(5) The Cabinet shall determine the security and technical requirements to be complied with if the single State and local government service portal (www.latvija.lv) or another online system is used for signature collection and shall determine the authority that will evaluate the compliance of the online system used for signature collection with the security and technical requirements determined by the Cabinet. Certification of compliance shall not be performed for the online signature collection system of the single State and local government service portal.

(6) The decision of the authority determined by the Cabinet by which it was refused to issue a certificate on compliance of the online system with the requirements laid down in laws and regulations may be appealed to a court in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Administrative Procedure Law.

[8 November 2012; 3 December 2020]

Section 23. (1) An initiative group shall be formed for collecting signatures in support of a draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution.

(2) The initiative group may consist of:

1) a political party or association of political parties;

2) an association of at least 10 voters, set up and registered in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Associations and Foundations Law.

(3) The initiative group shall submit to the Central Election Commission a submission and the draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution in support of which signature collection is planned.

(4) The Central Election Commission shall take one of the following decisions within 45 days:

1) to register the draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution;

2) to set a time limit for the elimination of any flaws established in the submission and the draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution;

3) to refuse registration of the draft law or draft amendments to the Constitutions in the cases referred to in Paragraph five of this Section.

(5) The Central Election Commission shall refuse registration of the draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution if:

1) the initiative group does not conform to the requirements of Paragraph one of this Section;

2) the draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution are not fully drawn up in terms of the form or content.

(6) The Central Election Commission, when deciding on the draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution submitted by the initiative group, may request the data, explanations and opinions necessary for resolving upon such issue from State and local government authorities, as well as invite experts.

[8 November 2012]

Section 23.¹ (1) The initiative group may appeal the decision of the Central Election Commission to refuse registration of the draft law or draft amendments to the Constitutions to the Department of Administrative Cases of the Senate of the Supreme Court.

(2) The court shall examine the case as the court of first instance. The matter shall be examined in the panel of three judges.

(3) The court shall examine the matter and adopt a ruling within one month from the date of receipt of the petition. If necessary, the court may extend the term for adopting a ruling, but not more than for one month.

(4) An applicant shall indicate the justification for the petition. The burden of proof shall lie with the participants to the administrative proceedings.

(5) If the law prescribes a time period for the execution of any procedural action, however, the provisions of Paragraph three of this Section would not be conformed to in executing the respective procedural action within such time period, the judge (court) shall itself determine a corresponding time period for the execution of the relevant procedural action.

(6) The court ruling as well as other decisions taken in performing procedural actions for the examination of the submitted petition or action brought shall not be subject to appeal.

[8 November 2012]

Section 24. Upon receipt of a submission from the initiative group for the collection of number of voter signatures specified in Section 22, Paragraph one of this Law, the Central Election Commission shall, using the data on signatures saved in the online signature collection system of the Central Election Commission, check whether the signatories are voters and determine the total number of signatures. If the draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution have been signed by less than one tenth of the number of the citizens of Latvia with the voting rights, the Central Election Commission shall, not later than within three days, notify the President thereof and send to him or her the draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution submitted by the voters.

[3 December 2020]

Section 25. (1) The President shall submit such draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution to the Saeima.

(2) The Saeima must review such draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution during the session in which it was submitted. If the draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution are submitted in-between sessions or at an extraordinary session, it must be reviewed in the next regular session, or in an extraordinary session convened especially for the review of such draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution.

[8 November 2012 / Amendments to Paragraph one shall come into force on 1 January 2015. See Paragraph 2 of Transitional Provisions]

Chapter IV.¹
EUROPEAN CITIZENS' INITIATIVE

[20 September 2012]

Section 25.¹ (1) If it is planned to collect statements of support for a European citizens' initiative online, the organisers shall submit a submission to the Supervisory Committee of Digital Security requesting to issue a certificate confirming that the online system used for the abovementioned purpose conforms to the security and technical features laid down in Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 on the citizens' initiative.

(2) The Supervisory Committee of Digital Security shall review the submission and, within one month, issue a certificate or take the decision to refuse to issue a certificate.

(3) The decision of the Supervisory Committee of Digital Security by which the issuing of a certificate on conformity of the online system with the security and technical features was refused may be appealed to a court in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Administrative Procedure Law.

(4) This Section shall not apply to cases when the organisers have received a certificate of conformity of the online system with the security and technical features from the competent authority of another Member State of the European Union.

[3 December 2020]

Section 25.² The organisers shall submit the statements of support collected according to the Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 on the citizens' initiative to the Central Election Commission.

Section 25.³ (1) Within two months after receiving statements of support from the organisers, the Central Election Commission shall count the signatures, establish the result and send the certificate confirming the number of valid statements to the organisers to the electronic mail address indicated in the form.

(2) If the Central Election Commission establishes that the verification of the received statements is outside its jurisdiction, the Central Election Commission shall send the statements of support back to the organiser within two weeks.

Section 25.⁴ The Central Election Commission shall draw up the necessary instructions for the verification of the statements of support.

Chapter IV.²
INITIATIVE TO RECALL THE SAEIMA

[8 November 2012 / Chapter shall come into force on 1 January 2015. See Paragraph 2 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 25.⁵ (1) Not less than one tenth of voters have the right to submit to the Central Election Commission an initiative to organise a national referendum on the recalling of the Saeima, indicating their given name, surname, personal identity number and the date of signing. An initiative to organise a national referendum on the recalling of the Saeima may be submitted within 12 months from the day when the Central Election Commission has registered the initiative group, unless the time limit laid down in Article 14 of the Constitution has set in when the right to initiate a national referendum on revocation of the Saeima may not be exercised.

(2) Signatures of voters shall be certified and information regarding them shall be saved in accordance with the procedures specified in Section 22, Paragraph two of the Law.

(3) The fee for the certification of a signature in respect to the signature collection on the recalling of the Saeima shall be determined in the Orphan's and Custody Court or local government authority by taking into account the direct administrative costs of certification of the signature, however, not more than half of the sum laid down in law for certification of the authenticity of a signature in the Orphan's and Custody Court.

(4) If identification of signatories and personal data protection is ensured, the signatures may also be collected electronically through the single State and local government service portal (www.latvija.lv) or another online system chosen by the initiative group for the respective purpose.

(5) The online system used for signature collection shall be subject to the provisions of Section 22, Paragraphs five and six of this Law.

[3 December 2020]

Section 25.⁶ (1) An initiative group shall be formed in order to collect signatures for the initiative to organise a national referendum on the recalling of the Saeima, and such group shall meet the requirements of Section 23, Paragraph two of this Law.

(2) The initiative group shall submit to the Central Election Commission an application on registration.

(3) The Central Election Commission shall take one of the following decisions within 10 days:

1) to register the initiative group, provided that it meets the requirements of Section 23, Paragraph two of this Law and the term laid down in Article 14 of the Constitution prohibiting initiation of a national referendum on the recalling of the Saeima has not set in on the day when the application is submitted;

2) to refuse the registration of the initiative group, provided that it does not conform to the requirements of Section 23, Paragraph two of this Law and the time limit laid down in Article 14 of the Constitution prohibiting initiation of a national referendum on the recalling of the Saeima has set in on the day when the application is submitted.

Section 25.⁷ (1) The Central Election Commission shall, using the data on signatures saved in the online signature collection system of the Central Election Commission, check whether the signatories are voters and determine the total number of signatures.

(2) If the initiative to organise a national referendum on the recalling of the Saeima has been signed by at least one tenth of the voters and if the term laid down in Article 14 of the Constitution prohibiting initiation of a national referendum on the recalling of the Saeima has not set in on the day when the application is submitted, the Central Election Commission shall take the decision to organise a national referendum on the recalling of the Saeima.

[3 December 2020]

Section 25.⁸ (1) The Central Election Commission shall notify in the official gazette Latvijas Vēstnesis the number of those voters who have signed the initiative to organise a national referendum on the recalling of the Saeima, and also shall publish the decision to organise a national referendum on the recalling of the Saeima or the decision to not organise a national referendum on the recalling of the Saeima.

(2) The day when a national referendum on the recalling of the Saeima is to be organised shall be determined in accordance with Section 12 of this Law, but not earlier than one month and not later than two months after the day when the decision of the Central Election Commission to organise a national referendum on the recalling of the Saeima has been published in the official gazette Latvijas Vēstnesis.

Chapter V
FINANCING OF EXPENSES OF A NATIONAL REFERENDUM

[8 November 2012]

Section 26. The expenses of a national referendum shall be covered by the State. The Central Election Commission shall determine the allocation of funds between the local government and polling station commissions.

[17 July 2008; 3 December 2020]

Chapter VI
CAMPAIGNS BEFORE A NATIONAL REFERENDUM, CAMPAIGNS FOR A LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE AND CAMPAIGNS FOR THE INITIATIVE TO RECALL THE SAEIMA

[8 November 2012 / See Paragraph 7 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 27. (1) Within the meaning of this Law, campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative and campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima is an organised statement, measure or activity of any form and any type whatsoever, if it includes a direct or indirect invitation to vote for or against the issue to be decided within a national referendum, as well as a direct or indirect invitation to participate or not to participate in a national referendum, signature collection on a legislative initiative or signature collection for the initiative to recall the Saeima.

(2) Within the meaning of this Law, the campaign period before a national referendum is the period from the date of announcement of a national referendum until the date of the national referendum. Within the meaning of this Law, the campaign period for a legislative initiative is the period from the date when the Central Election Commission announces the registration of the draft law until the last date of signature collection. Within the meaning of this Law, the campaign period for the recalling of the Saeima shall be the period from the date when the Central Election Commission announces the registration of the initiative group (for the signature collection on the initiative to recall the Saeima) until the last date of signature collection.

Section 28. (1) Any natural person, legal person, registered association of such persons and an initiative group (hereinafter - the campaigner) are entitled to conduct campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative and campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima.

(2) The State, another derived public entity, a member of the election commission as well as a capital company with more than one per cent of capital shares (stocks) belonging to the State or derived public entity is prohibited from conducting campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative and campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima.

Section 29. (1) On the day of a national referendum and also on the day before the national referendum, the placement of campaign materials in electronic mass media - radio and television - broadcasts, public places, publications, and at the authorities and capital companies referred to in Section 33, Paragraph one of this Law, and also conduct of campaigns as a paid service on public electronic communications network, including the Internet, shall be prohibited.

(2) Campaigns before a national referendum and campaigns for a legislative initiative are prohibited at the places referred to in Section 7, Paragraph two of this Law, polling premises and in the distance of less than 50 metres from the entrance into the building where the polling station is located.

[21 February 2019]

Section 30. (1) The broadcasts on campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative and campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima may not be included in the form of advertising in the news broadcasts of electronic mass media.

(2) On the day of a national referendum until 10.00 p.m., the programmes and broadcasts of electronic mass media - radio and television - may not include the results of the public opinion polls performed on the issue to be resolved in the national referendum.

(3) Electronic mass media may not edit, compile or otherwise modify the broadcasts and materials of a campaign before a national referendum, campaign for a legislative initiative and campaign for the initiative to recall the Saeima without the consent of the persons who are participating in these broadcasts. Electronic mass media shall not be liable for the veracity of the data included in the campaign materials that have been previously prepared and submitted to them.

(4) Electronic mass media which provide retransmission of programmes of foreign electronic mass media in Latvia shall include in the contract with the respective foreign electronic mass media a provision that during campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative and campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima the programmes re-transmitted in Latvia may not include the campaign materials before a national referendum, campaign materials for a legislative initiative and campaign materials for the initiative to recall the Saeima.

(5) The provisions of this Law shall not apply to a recount of facts in news broadcasts and direct news coverage.

Section 31. (1) Before or immediately after each campaign before a national referendum, campaign for a legislative initiative and campaign for the initiative to recall the Saeima in the programme or broadcast of electronic mass media - radio or television, as well as publication, on the Internet or at a public place the payer for the campaigning shall be indicated within the scope of the respective material.

(1¹) When distributing bulletins, books, leaflets and other campaign editions produced by print technology that are not press publications, the relevant edition shall clearly and unambiguously indicate that it is a campaign before a national referendum, campaign for a legislative initiative or campaign for the initiative to recall the Saeima and also the campaigner who has paid for such campaign and the number of copies of the edition.

(2) If a payment is received for the campaigns referred to in Section 27, Paragraph one of this Law, but the payer, contrary to the provisions of this law, has not been indicated, it shall be considered a hidden campaign. Within the meaning of this Law, payment is any remuneration, including any benefits in kind, services, assignment of rights, release from obligation, waiver of any rights in favour of any other person, etc.

(3) Hidden campaigns before a national referendum, hidden campaigns for a legislative initiative or hidden campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima are prohibited.

[21 February 2019]

Section 32. (1) The placement of campaign materials before a national referendum, campaign materials for a legislative initiative and campaign materials for the initiative to recall the Saeima in public places shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 21, 22, and 22.¹ of the Pre-election Campaign Law, insofar as they are applicable to campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative and campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima.

(2) [21 February 2018]

(3) The campaigner shall be liable for removal of campaign materials in accordance with the procedures laid down by the respective local government.

(4) The provisions of Paragraphs one and three of this Section shall not apply to cases when campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative and campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima are conducted within the scope of a festive, commemoration, entertaining, sports or recreation event organised by the campaigner. In such case, the issues related to the approval and course of the respective events shall be governed by the Law on the Safety of Public Entertainment and Festivity Events.

(5) The State and derived public entities may not create special advantages or restrictions for any campaigner in relation to the placement of campaign materials before a national referendum, campaign materials for a legislative initiative and campaign materials for the initiative to recall the Saeima in public places.

[21 February 2019]

Section 33. (1) Campaign materials before a national referendum, campaign materials for a legislative initiative and campaign materials for the initiative to recall the Saeima may not be placed in the premises of the buildings where State authorities and authorities of derived public entities and capital companies in which more than 50 per cent of capital shares (stocks) is owned by the State or derived public entities are located, as well as in the shared-use facilities of such buildings.

(2) The restriction provided for in Paragraph one of this Section shall not apply to the materials of the Central Election Commission of informative nature regarding a national referendum, legislative initiative or initiative to recall the Saeima, as well as to the cases referred to in Paragraph three of this Section.

(3) State authorities and authorities of derived public entities and capital companies in which more than 50 per cent of shares (stocks) is owned by the State or derived public entities may grant to the campaigner the premises for organising meetings with voters, free of charge or for a fee not exceeding the actual expenses of the maintenance of such premises, provided that other persons are also given the possibility to use these premises to meet with voters under the same conditions.

[21 February 2019]

Section 34. (1) A natural person, legal person or registered association of such persons may use for expenses of campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative and campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima a sum not exceeding the monthly average gross work remuneration of the year before last published by the Central Statistical Bureau, which is rounded up in full euros, applying the coefficient of 0.00007, and calculated per each voter in the previous Saeima elections. This restriction shall not apply to the case referred to in Paragraph two of this Section.

(2) The initiative group may use for expenses of campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative and campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima a sum not exceeding the monthly average gross work remuneration of the year before last published by the Central Statistical Bureau, which is rounded up in full euros, applying the coefficient of 0.00007, and calculated per each voter in the previous Saeima elections.

(3) Expenses of campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative and campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima conducted by a registered association of political parties shall also be considered as the expenses used for such purpose by the political parties forming the association.

(4) The funds spent by an individual member of the Saeima or a candidate to the Saeima, a member of a political party or a member of the initiative group for an individual campaign before a national referendum, individual campaign for a legislative initiative and individual campaign for the initiative to recall the Saeima shall be included in the campaign expenses of the respective initiative group.

(5) The funds referred to in Paragraph one of this Section which a person may use for campaigns shall be comprised of the expenses of the respective person during the campaign period before a national referendum, the campaign period for a legislative initiative and the campaign period for the initiative to recall the Saeima, irrespective of the date of issue of the document confirming transaction (invoice, contract or another document), receipt or making of a payment for:

1) the placement of an advertisement:

a) in the programmes and broadcasts of the public electronic mass medium - television;

b) in the programmes and broadcasts of the public electronic mass medium - radio;

c) in the programmes and broadcasts of the commercial electronic mass medium - television;

d) in the programmes and broadcasts of the commercial electronic mass medium - radio;

e) in newspapers, magazines, bulletins and other periodicals registered in accordance with the procedures laid down in law which are produced by print technology and widely circulated throughout the territory of the country;

f) in newspapers, magazines, bulletins and other periodicals registered in accordance with the procedures laid down in law which are produced by print technology and the majority editions of which are circulated within the territory of one local government;

g) on the Internet, except for the website of a political party, association of political parties and the initiative group;

h) in premises and public places (public courtyards, squares, streets, on bridges and in other similar places) regardless of the ownership of the property;

2) the use of postal (also electronic mail) services to send the campaign materials before a national referendum, campaign materials for a legislative initiative or campaign materials for the initiative to recall the Saeima;

3) the funding and sponsoring of charity events by disbursing bonuses and making gifts (donations).

(6) The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau shall annually post on its website an informative notice, indicating the sum referred to in Paragraphs one and two of this Section which may be allocated per one voter in a campaign before a national referendum, campaign for a legislative initiative or campaign for the initiative to recall the Saeima.

[12 September 2013; 3 December 2020]

Section 35. (1) If a campaign before a national referendum or legislative initiative is conducted by a political party or an association of political parties which has submitted their list of candidates for the Saeima elections in three, four or five electoral districts and the campaign period taking place before a national referendum or campaign period taking place for a legislative initiative fully or partially coincides with the pre-election campaign period taking place before the Saeima elections, the amount of expenses determined for the pre-election campaign for the Saeima elections laid down in the Law on Financing of Political Organisations (Parties) may be used in total for its campaign before a national referendum or a legislative initiative, and pre-election campaign before the Saeima elections.

(2) If campaigns before a national referendum or campaigns for a legislative initiative are conducted by a political party or an association of political parties which has submitted their list of candidates for the Saeima elections in one or two electoral districts and the campaign period taking place before a national referendum or the campaign period taking place for a legislative initiative fully or partially coincides with the pre-election campaign period taking place before the Saeima elections, the amount of expenses laid down in Section 34, Paragraph one or two of this Law may be used in total for its campaign before a national referendum or a legislative initiative, and pre-election campaign before the Saeima elections.

(3) If two or more periods of campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative or campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima (in any combination thereof) fully or partially coincide, then the amount of expenses laid down in Section 34, Paragraph one or two of this Law may be used in total for all campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative or campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima.

(4) The campaigner may finance a campaign before a national referendum, campaign for a legislative initiative or campaign for the initiative to recall the Saeima, including give gifts (donations) out of his or her legally obtained income.

(5) Campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative or campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima may not be financed from the funds which:

1) are directly or indirectly obtained from legal persons registered abroad and foreign citizens;

2) obtained from an anonymous payer. A person who cannot be detected (no given name, surname, personal identity number and residential address of a natural person or no firm name, registration number and registered address of a legal person is indicated) shall be considered an anonymous payer;

3) obtained with the intermediation of a third party. The case when the identification data of another person are used upon implementing one's own personal interest to finance campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative or campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima, or when a donation is made with the intermediation of a third party for the financing of campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative or campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima shall be considered campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative or campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima with the intermediation of a third party. Within the meaning of this Law, the case when, on the basis of a notarised power of attorney in which the particular amount or property to be donated and the value thereof is indicated, an authorised representative gives a donation on behalf of the principal shall not be considered intermediation. It is prohibited to delegate such authorisation to another person.

(6) All funds intended or used for campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative or campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima and exceeding one minimum monthly wage shall be directly and immediately transferred into the bank account of the beneficiary. If the amount of funds intended or used for campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative or campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima have reached one minimum monthly wage, subsequent funds shall be directly and immediately transferred into the bank account of the beneficiary.

(7) Within the meaning of this Law, a gift (donation) shall be any material or gratuitous benefits of other type, including services, assignment of rights, release from obligation, waiver of any rights in favour of an interested party, as well as other activities by which any benefit is granted to the interested party. Within the meaning of this Law, a gift (donation) shall also be a transfer of movable or immovable property into the ownership of the interested party and provision of services to the interested party for a charge lower than the market value of the relevant movable or immovable property or service.

Section 36. (1) If the expenses related to the placement of campaign materials before a national referendum, campaign materials for a legislative initiative or campaign materials for the initiative to recall the Saeima in the particular electronic, mass media or press publication exceed the amount of expenses referred to in Section 34, Paragraph one or two or Section 35, Paragraph one, two or three of this Law, such electronic mass media or press publication shall refuse to enter into a contract.

(2) The campaigner shall enter into a contract on the placement of campaign materials before a national referendum, campaign materials for a legislative initiative or campaign materials for the initiative to recall the Saeima with the respective electronic mass media or press publication directly and without intermediation.

(3) If the editions referred to in Section 31, Paragraph 1.¹ of this Law are only distributed by using postal services, the campaigner or an authorised person thereof shall enter into the contract on the distribution of campaign materials by using postal services directly and without intermediation only with the postal service provider.

[21 February 2019]

Section 37. (1) Electronic mass media or press publication which has agreed with the campaigner on the placement of placement of campaign materials before a national referendum, campaign materials for a legislative initiative or campaign materials for the initiative to recall the Saeima shall, not later than on the next working day after entering into the contract or introduction of amendments to a concluded contract, send a notice to the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau on the placement of campaign materials before a national referendum, campaign materials for a legislative initiative or campaign materials for the initiative to revoke the Saeima in the allocated transmission time of electronic mass media or in the press publication.

(2) The campaigner who has agreed with any service provider on the placement of campaign materials before a national referendum, campaign materials for a legislative initiative or campaign materials for the initiative to recall the Saeima on the Internet for a fee, in the premises or public places, irrespective of the belonging of the property or on the use of the postal (also electronic mail) services for sending of campaign materials before a national referendum, campaign materials for a legislative initiative or campaign materials for the initiative to recall the Saeima shall, not later than on the next working day after entering into a contract or introduction of amendments to a concluded contract, send a notice to the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau on the placement of campaign materials before a national referendum, campaign materials for a legislative initiative or campaign materials for the initiative to recall the Saeima.

(3) The following information shall be indicated in the notice referred to in Paragraphs one and two of this Section:

1) the date the contract;

2) information on contracting parties:

a) the name, registration number and legal address of the commissioning party - legal person, including political organisation, association of political organisations, association;

b) the given name, surname, personal identity number and the address of the declared place of residence of the commissioning party - natural person;

c) the firm name, registration number and registered address of the commissioning party - registered association of persons;

d) the name of the commissioning party - initiative group, and the given name, surname, personal identity number and the address of the declared place of residence of the representative thereof - contracting party;

3) the given name, surname, personal identity number and the address of the declared place of residence of the placer of the campaign material or the service provider - natural person;

4) the firm name, registration number and legal address of the placer of the campaign material or the service provider - legal person or registered association of legal persons or natural persons;

5) depending on the type of the placement of campaign materials, the following shall be indicated:

a) in programmes and broadcasts of electronic mass media - radio and television - the date, time and duration of the placement of each campaign material;

b) in press publications - the date and space of the placement of each campaign material;

c) on the Internet for a fee - the date, time, duration and scope of the placement of each campaign material;

d) in the premises or public places - the date, duration and space of the placement of each campaign material;

e) when sending the campaign materials by post (also by electronic mail) - the date and scope of the sending of campaign materials;

6) the contract sum (with the value added tax);

7) the discounts applied and justification thereof, as well as the contract sum (with the value added tax), which would have been effected if the discounts were not applied;

8) the procedures and time period for the payment of the contractual sum (including in cash or by wire transfer);

9) other information which the placer of the campaign materials or a person who has agreed with any service provider on placement or sending of the campaign materials deems to be significant.

(4) In the case referred to in Section 35, Paragraphs one and two of this Law, the political party or the association of political parties shall submit to the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau the documents on expenses of campaigns before a national referendum or campaigns before a legislative initiative in accordance with the laws and regulations governing control of the amount of expenses of pre-election campaigns taking place before the Saeima elections, indicating the expenses of both campaign types together.

Section 38. (1) A person who has violated the restrictions on campaigns before a national referendum or campaigns for a legislative initiative, or who has violated the procedures for placing campaign materials or has failed in any other way to conform to the provisions of this Law shall be held liable according to law.

(2) If after expiry of the period of campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative or campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau establishes that a person, a registered association of persons or an initiative group has exceeded the total amount of funds permissible for campaigns as referred to in Section 34, Paragraph one or two or Section 35, Paragraph two or three of this Law or has failed to conform to the restrictions on financing referred to in Section 35, Paragraphs four and five of this Law, the Head of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau shall request the respective campaigner to transfer funds that are equal to the amount exceeded during a campaign before a national referendum, campaign for a legislative initiative and campaign for the initiative to revoke the Saeima to the State budget within 30 days. Upon reasoned request of the campaigner, the Head of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau may divide the transfer of funds in periods not exceeding 90 days in total.

(3) If during the period of campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative or campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau establishes that a person, a registered association of persons or an initiative group has exceeded the total amount of funds permissible for campaigns as referred to in Section 34, Paragraph one or two or Section 35, Paragraph two or three of this Law, the Head of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau shall take the decision to prohibit any further campaigns.

(4) The Head of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau shall make the decision referred to in Paragraph two of this Section to transfer funds to the State budget not later than five years after expiry of the period of campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative or campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima.

(5) If a political party or an association of political parties exceeds the amount of expenses laid down in Section 35, Paragraph one of this Law for a campaign before a national referendum, campaign for a legislative initiative or the pre-election campaign before the Saeima elections, the political party or the association of political parties shall be held liable in accordance with the laws and regulations laying down the liability for exceeding the amount of expenses of pre-election campaigns before the Saeima elections.

(6) The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau shall, within six months after expiry of the period of campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative or campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima, inform the public of the established campaign violations.

(7) The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau shall control and supervise the conformity with the restrictions set on financing and eligible expenses for campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative and campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima in accordance with the procedures laid down in this Law.

(8) Within two weeks after expiry of the period of campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative or campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima, the initiative group shall prepare and submit to the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau a campaign report, indicating the funding sources for the campaign expenses and expenses according to the types laid down in Section 34, Paragraph five of this Law.

Chapter VII
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFENCES IN THE FIELD OF CAMPAIGNS AND COMPETENCE IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFENCE PROCEEDINGS

[18 June 2020]

Section 39. (1) For the violation of the campaigning procedures laid down in this Law or for the failure to comply with the restrictions in relation to campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative and campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima, a warning or a fine of up to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but on a fine of up to two hundred and eighty units of fine - on a legal person.

(2) For the failure to comply with the procedures for the placement of materials and record-keeping in the field of electronic mass media in relation to campaigns before a national referendum, campaigns for a legislative initiative or campaigns for the initiative to recall the Saeima, a fine from ten to hundred units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person, but a fine from hundred to one thousand four hundred and twenty units of fine - on a legal person.

[18 June 2020]

Section 40. (1) Administrative offence proceedings for the offences referred to in Section 39, Paragraph one of this Law shall be conducted by the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau.

(2) Administrative offence proceedings for the offences referred to in Section 39, Paragraph two of this Law shall be conducted by the National Electronic Mass Media Council.

(3) Until examination of the case, administrative offence proceedings for the offences referred to in Section 39, Paragraph one of this Law if such offences have been established by the officials of the State Police or municipal police shall be conducted by the State Police or municipal police accordingly, but the administrative offence case shall be examined by the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau.

[18 June 2020]

TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

[8 November 2012]

1. Until 1 January 2004, voters living abroad who have not received the passport of a citizen of Latvia until the day of elections shall present or send to the polling station commission the registration sheet with the personal identity number of such voter issued by the Office for Citizenship and Migration Affairs.

[8 November 2012]

2. The new wording of Sections 22 and 24 of this Law, amendments to Section 25 providing for the change in the procedures for the initiation of the draft law and draft amendments to the Constitution, as well as Chapter IV.² shall come into force on 1 January 2015.

[8 November 2012]

3. Until 1 September 2014, the Cabinet shall ensure the technical and security readiness of the online system of the single State and local government service portal for the collection of signatures in online mode.

[8 November 2012]

4. Until 1 January 2015, at least 30 000 citizens of Latvia with voting rights have the right to submit to the Central Election Commission a fully drawn-up draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution, indicating their given names, surnames, personal identity numbers and the date of signing. The draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution may be submitted within 12 months from the date when the draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution have been registered with the Central Election Commission. Each signature of a voter within the abovementioned period of 12 months must be certified by a sworn notary or the Orphan's and Custody Court which is performing notarial activities. The fee for the certification of a signature in respect to the signature collection on the draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution shall be determined in the Orphan's and Custody Court taking into account the direct administrative costs of certification of the signature, however, not more than half of the sum laid down in law for the certification of authenticity of a signature in the Orphan's and Custody Court.

[8 November 2012]

5. If at least 30 000 voters submit a fully drawn-up draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution to the Central Election Commission until 1 January 2015, indicating their given names, surnames, personal identity numbers and date of signing, the Central Election Commission shall set a time limit of 21 days when the signature sheets where voters may sign are available in the places designated by each city or municipality council.

[8 November 2012]

6. Until 1 January 2015, a notification on the commencement of signature collection necessary for the legislative initiative together with the submitted draft law or draft amendments to the Constitution shall be published in the official gazette Latvijas Vēstnesis.

[8 November 2012]

7. Sections 27, 28, 30, 31, 32 and 33 of this Law shall be applicable also to national referendums or legislative initiatives, including to signature collection commenced prior to the coming into force of these amendments and not yet completed.

[8 November 2012]

8. The second sentence of Section 29, Paragraph two of this Law is repealed from 1 January 2015.

[8 November 2012]

9. Until 1 January 2015, at least 10 000 citizens of Latvia with voting rights have the right to submit an initiative to organise a national referendum on the recalling of the Saeima to the Central Election Commission, indicating their given names, surnames, personal identity numbers and the date of signing. In order to commence the signature collection for the initiative to organise a national referendum on the recalling of the Saeima, an initiative group shall be formed that meets the requirements of Section 23, Paragraph two of this Law. The initiative group shall submit to the Central Election Commission an application on registration.

[8 November 2012]

10. If an application for the registration of an initiative group has been submitted in accordance with Paragraph 7 of these Transitional Provisions, the Central Election Commission shall take one of the following decisions within 10 days:

1) to register the initiative group if it meets the requirements of Section 23, Paragraph two of this Law and the time limit down in Article 14 of the Constitution which prohibits the initiation of a national referendum on the recalling of the Saeima has not set in on the day when the application is submitted;

2) to refuse the registration of the initiative group if it does not meet the requirements of Section 23, Paragraph two of this Law and the time limit laid down in Article 14 of the Constitution which prohibits the initiation of a national referendum on the recalling of the Saeima has set in on the day when the application is submitted.

[8 November 2012]

11. Until 1 January 2015, an initiative to hold a national referendum on the recalling of the Saeima may be submitted within 12 months from the day when the Central Election Commission has registered the initiative group, unless the time limit laid down in Article 14 of the Constitution which prohibits the initiation of a national referendum on the recalling of the Saeima has set in. Each signature of the voter within the abovementioned period of 12 months must be certified by a sworn notary or the Orphan's and Custody Court which is performing notarial activities. The fee for the certification of signatures in respect to the signature collection on the recalling of the Saeima shall be determined in the Orphan's and Custody Court taking into account the direct administrative costs of certification, however, not more than half of the sum laid down in law for the certification of authenticity of a signature in the Orphan's and Custody Court.

[8 November 2012]

12. Until 1 January 2015, if it has established that the initiative to organise the national referendum on the recalling of the Saeima has been signed by at least 10 000 citizens of Latvia with voting rights, the Central Election Commission shall announce the commencement of the signature collection. The announcement on the initiative to organise a national referendum on the recalling of the Saeima shall be published in the official gazette Latvijas Vēstnesis. Signature collection shall take place in accordance with the procedures laid down in Sections 7-9 of this Law. The citizens who have signed for the initiative to organise a national referendum on the recalling of the Saeima in accordance with the procedures laid down in Section 22 of this Law shall be included in the total number of the initiators. If the abovementioned citizens have signed also in accordance with the procedures laid down in Section 24, Paragraph one of this Law, their signatures shall not be counted in the signature sheets. The Central Election Commission shall count the votes and establish the result.

[8 November 2012]

The Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 31 March 1994.

President G. Ulmanis

Rīga, 20 April 1994

¹ The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia

Translation © 2021 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)