Outgoing MP Ābrama plans to rest and read after leaving the Saeima

Skaidrīte Ābrama, a member of Latvia's 14th Saeima (parliament), plans to rest after her mandate ends and will decide on her future career later. She told the news agency LETA. Ābrama did not run in the 15th Saeima elections, so she will not be in the new parliament, which convenes for its first session on Tuesday.

Plans after the term

Ābrama said she first wants to read books and go on a trip, and will start thinking about her next occupation in roughly three months. She does not rule out returning to consulting, which she did after leaving the Competition Council and before working in the Saeima.

The 70-year-old politician noted that she is a pensioner and has no need to keep working continuously. She wants a job that brings satisfaction, but allows that after returning to Latvia she might decide not to work at all.

Considered leaving in the first year

Ābrama was elected to the 14th Saeima on the Progressives' list, but last June she left both the party's parliamentary group and the party itself. She said she had disagreements with the Progressives and held different views on what she considered the most important issues.

Asked whether she would stay out of politics, Ābrama said she had already considered quitting parliament in her first year because she disliked the process there. After talking with close family, she decided to continue, taking into account the trust of voters.

"How productive is this work? You come with your proposals, which you know from professional experience are important and need to be fixed, and they are rejected. The satisfaction is very minimal," Ābrama said.

The new Saeima

Following the 15th Saeima elections, President Edgars Rinkēvičs tasked a representative of the United List, current Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, with leading government formation. The party won 41 seats and became the largest force in parliament. Also represented will be Latvia First with 17 seats, Sovereign Power/Alliance Young Latvians with 15, the Progressives and the National Alliance with ten each, and Unity with seven.