On Tuesday, 6 November, the members of the 13^th Saeima elected Ināra Mūrniece as their Speaker.

Members of the 13^th Saeima elected Ināra Mūrniece as the Speaker in an open ballot vote by ballot papers, with 44 MPs voting in favour and 32 MPs voting against her appointment.

Speaker Mūrniece held this position during the 12^th Saeima, whereas previously, during the 11^th Saeima, she served as the Chairperson of the Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee, and a member of the Citizenship, Migration and Social Cohesion Committee and Civic Education and Youth Affairs Subcommittee of the Education, Culture and Science Committee.

For 16 years, prior to being elected to the 11^th Saeima, Ināra Mūrniece worked as a domestic political and foreign policy correspondent at newspaper Latvijas Avīze.

Speaker Mūrniece holds a professional translator’s diploma issued by the University of Latvia. She received her professional Bachelor’s degree in translation at the University of Economics and Culture.

The Speaker represents the Saeima, chairs and maintains order during the Saeima sittings. During the Speaker’s absence and upon mutual consent, his/her duties are fulfilled by one of the Deputy Speakers. The Speaker of the Saeima acts as the President of the State during the election of new President of the State. The Speaker also substitutes the President when he/she is on a foreign visit or is otherwise unable to serve.

Saeima Press Service