Latvian President Criticises Parliament's Handling of Citizenship Grants to Foreigners
President Edgars Rinkēvičs says the Saeima's decision to first grant and then revoke Latvian citizenship for an Indian national points to sloppiness. The outgoing Saeima has recognised eight people as citizens through a special law.
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Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs has criticised how the Saeima, Latvia's parliament, decides on admitting foreigners to citizenship. His criticism follows a case in which deputies first granted and then revoked citizenship for an Indian national.
The president's assessment
Rinkēvičs says the process has not given the impression that this very important issue is being handled responsibly. He was referring to the deputies' decision to grant citizenship first and take it away afterwards.
An unprecedented case
The news site TVNET describes the situation as unprecedented. In its view, it highlights sloppiness in the way parliamentarians decide on admitting foreigners to Latvian citizenship.
Eight new citizens
The outgoing Saeima has recognised eight people as citizens through a special law on citizens. The headline of the TVNET article asks who receives citizenship and why, and mentions influencers, producers and entrepreneurs. The outlet concludes that the most important factor in the process is not merit in serving the state, but politicians' feelings about the person concerned.
The source gives no further details on the Indian national's name or on why citizenship was withdrawn.
