RIGA, Nov 15 (LETA) - Starting today, Saeima lawmakers without a valid Covd-19 certificate, proving vaccination or recovery from the disease, are banned from participating in meetings of the parliament and its committees.

Also, the same regulation refers to local lawmakers.

Initially it was planned to ban these lawmakers only from in-person meetings, but the final decision was to ban them also from remote meetings.

The proposal was submitted by the coalition parties - For Development/For, New Unity, the New Conservative Party and the National Alliance.

The legislation stipulates that, as of November 15, a Saeima member may participate in sittings of Saeima and Saeima committees after he or she presents to Saeima Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee a Covid-19 certificate confirming that he or she has been vaccinated against or recovered from the coronavirus, or an opinion of a clinical university hospital specialist recommending postponing vaccination for a certain period of time, together with a negative Covid-19 test.

Payment of monthly wages and compensations will be suspended for lawmakers who are not able to work at the parliament.

The bill will remain effective until July 1, 2022.

Saeima Presidium will assess the need to maintain such restrictions at least once every two months.