Monitoring the Latvian Government’s Initiatives to Address “State Capture”

Monitoring the Latvian Government’s Initiatives to Address “State Capture”

IMPLEMENTING PARTNER: Delna
YEAR: 2002
GRANT AMOUNT: $11,835
THEME: Elections

Delna undertook a study of the funding of political parties in 2002, which was used as a basis for advocating new legislation to correct the ongoing abuses. As a result, Delna was invited to participate in the parliamentary committee considering draft legislation on this matter and was able to improve the draft law and then lobby for its enactment. The law has since been passed, and there remains a continuing need for Delna to monitor the application of the law to ensure it is fully respected. The legislation was considered important by the European Union as Latvia prepared itself for EU membership. This was the real beginning of a significant development, for it legitimized for the first time the involvement of civil society representatives in the legislative process. Delna gained valuable experience and knowledge about the workings of government, established a record of responsible participation with colleagues from inside and outside government, demonstrated its expertise and capacity to contribute substantively to the evolving debate, and built up important contacts both inside and outside government.

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