Smiltēns proposes AI use and more flexible committee staffing in Latvia's parliament

Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, should use artificial intelligence in its deputies' work so they can get analytical information faster and advance their own initiatives. Saeima Speaker Edvards Smiltēns (AS) said this on Friday, 13 November, in an interview on the Latvian Television programme "Rīta panorāma". He outlined several planned changes meant to make support for lawmakers quicker and more flexible.

Analytical service

In Smiltēns' view, the Saeima Analytical Service needs considerably more capacity and a faster pace of work. He hopes to achieve this through artificial intelligence, which would allow large volumes of data to be processed and answers to be given to deputies almost immediately.

The speaker said deputies should be able to come forward with initiatives straight away, rather than after three or six months spent waiting for a commissioned study. He argued that Latvia, as a small country, must be able to work quickly and flexibly.

More flexible committee staffing

Smiltēns intends to discuss with the Saeima's parliamentary groups a more flexible use of parliamentary staff in committee work. For example, when the Budget and Finance (Taxation) Committee faces a substantially heavier workload during the review of the state budget, staff from other committees could be brought in to help. As workloads change, employees could then be redirected to support other committees.

He also proposes that each committee be able to engage an expert for a set period, with more flexible rules for hiring and dismissing that person. According to the politician, the aim of such changes would be to give deputies better chances of achieving results in their work.

Subcommittee goals

For the work of Saeima subcommittees, Smiltēns wants to set concrete goals, possibly also deadlines and expected results. He believes this would encourage more purposeful work and allow journalists to follow what has been accomplished.