RIGA, May 31 (LETA) - The Saeima did not take the final decision on the Varaklani region's future today and sent the respective draft amendments to the Law on Administrative Territories and Populated Areas back to the Administrative Territorial Reform Committee. 

The Saeima also adjourned its sitting until Tuesday, June 1. 

Thus, lawmakers also did not manage to go through a bill on moving local elections in the regions of Madona and Rezekne to September 11. After the Constitutional Court ruled the plan to merge the Varaklani region with the Rezekne region unconstitutional, the Central Election Commission has already suspended the election procedure in the Rezekne and Madona regions. 

As reported, while deciding on draft amendments to the Law on Administrative Territories and Populated Areas, a majority of Saeima members on Monday ignored the Constitutional Court's ruling and voted to merge Varaklani with the Rezekne region. However, to adopt the proposal, the parliament still has to vote on the whole bill.

The proposal was submitted by MPs Edmunds Teirumnieks (National Alliance), Janina Kursite, Janina Kursite-Pakule (National Alliance), Juris Rancans (New Conservative Party) Andris Kazinovskis and Janis Tutins (Harmony). They proposed to include the municipalities of Murmastiene and Varaklani, as well as Varaklani town into the Rezekne region.

During the debate on the issue, lawmakers voiced differing opinions as to whether it was acceptable to vote against the Constitutional Court's decision.

Earlier today, however, the Saeima had endorsed the merger of Varaklani with the Madona region.