"One hundred years ago, our founding fathers chose the path of parliamentary democracy. It is not an easy path and requires the ability to hear and reconcile different ideas, beliefs and opinions. For the legislative process to work smoothly and constructively in a parliamentary republic, an effective democratic instrument is needed. The Saeima's Rules of Procedure have become such an instrument," said Edvards Smiltēns, Speaker of the Saeima, at the opening of an event to mark the centenary of the Saeima's Rules of Procedure on Thursday, 15 June.