Latvia’s president sends controversial Istanbul Convention withdrawal law back to parliament, citing contradictory messaging concerns
RIGA: Latvia’s President Edgars Rinkevics has returned a controversial law withdrawing the Baltic state from a European treaty combating violence against women to parliament.
The legislation would have made Latvia the first European Union country to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention on violence against women.
Rinkevics stated the passed legislation would send a contradictory message to both Latvian society and international allies.
The president’s decision requires parliament to send the law to a relevant committee for reconsideration.
The committee must consider Rinkevics’ objections and schedule another debate limited to his raised points.
Parliament cannot send the unchanged legislation back to the president a second time if it passes again.
The Council of Europe convention requires signatory parties to develop laws and policies ending violence against women and domestic physical abuse.
Latvian lawmakers behind the legislation alleged the treaty promoted gender theories and foreign ideology.
The Council of Europe has repeatedly rejected allegations that the treaty imposes gender theories.
The governing coalition led by centre-right Prime Minister Evika Silina was split on the withdrawal vote.
Right-wing opposition parties voted to quit the treaty while coalition partners disagreed on the decision.
The issue has divided the country and sparked massive street demonstrations by women’s rights groups in Riga.
Turkey previously withdrew from the violence against women convention in 2021.
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly president Theodoros Rousopoulos noted femicides and violence against women have sharply increased in Turkey since its withdrawal.
Latvia originally ratified the Council of Europe convention in November 2024. – AFP
