Overview
- Lawmakers approved the withdrawal 56–44 after the Union of Greens and Farmers broke with Prime Minister Evika Siliņa and backed the opposition.
- The vote followed hours of heated debate and protests in Riga, where roughly 5,000 people demonstrated against leaving the convention.
- The Istanbul Convention, a Council of Europe treaty, frames violence against women as a human-rights violation and sets standards for prevention and victim support.
- Opponents in Latvia argue the pact advances contested definitions of gender and contend existing national laws are sufficient to combat abuse.
- Rights advocates and coalition allies warn the decision harms Latvia’s standing with EU partners, while President Edgars Rinkēvičs can return the law to parliament or, under specific conditions, initiate a referendum.