Smiltēns: Divisive Issues Like Istanbul Convention Will Wait, Next Government Says
Politician Edvards Smiltēns of the United List said in a post-election discussion that the next government will put a moratorium on socially divisive issues such as the Istanbul Convention. He called this a necessary pause.
In a Latvian Television discussion held after the results of the 15th Saeima elections were announced, Edvards Smiltēns, a politician representing the United List, addressed topics that have traditionally caused sharp disagreements within Latvian society and among political parties.
As a clear example of such a divisive issue, Smiltēns named the Istanbul Convention — the Council of Europe treaty on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, which has repeatedly sparked heated debate and political conflict between different parties and segments of society in Latvia.
According to Smiltēns, the next government will impose a moratorium on such issues that split society and politicians. This means these topics will not be advanced for further consideration or decision-making for the time being, as the new government focuses on what he described as more pressing and less conflict-prone priorities.
Smiltēns argued that, given the current political situation — with government formation talks underway following the elections — it would not be productive to keep topics on the agenda that risk deepening divisions between political forces or parts of society. In his view, it is more rational to focus on matters where broader agreement among the public and coalition partners can realistically be reached.
The discussion was broadcast live immediately after the announcement of the 15th Saeima election results, with representatives of political parties discussing possible scenarios for forming the next government and its work priorities. Smiltēns' remarks suggest that at least some of the parties that won seats in the election want to avoid putting ideologically sensitive topics at the forefront, in order not to complicate coalition negotiations and future cooperation.
