The website of Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, (saeima.lv) has adopted a new design, the goal of which is to make information about the work of the parliament easier to find and more accessible, as well as to provide a more convenient opportunity to follow and participate in the work of the Saeima.
"The previous website of the Saeima was created more than 15 years ago and its functionality was limited. Over time, public habits in searching for information and requirements regarding digital accessibility, security and ease of use have also changed significantly. Therefore, this year, work was started on a new website that meets the needs of today's users and provides easy access to information about the work of the parliament on various devices," said a Saeima release explaining the change.
"The new website makes it easier to follow parliamentary news, the work of committees, parliamentary sessions and decisions made. Special attention has also been paid to cybersecurity and data protection to ensure the stable and reliable operation of the website," said the release.
The new website also includes a special section called “Participation Space”, which provides information on the opportunities for the public to get involved in the work of the parliament. There, citizens can learn how to follow the legislative process, visit the Saeima, participate in events, and learn more about the work of the parliament.
There, they can also learn about the parliament’s invitations to schools and young people. The “Participation Space” section was created with the aim of strengthening citizen participation and promoting public understanding of the work of the parliament.
All parliamentary events – sittings, conferences, meetings and related materials – are now available in one place via a calendar view. Users also have access to a large database of members of parliament from all parliamentary convocations, starting with the Constitutional Assembly. For the most recent convocations, information on the legislative activities of each member is also available. The Saeima sittings are carefully documented, with both transcripts and video recordings available since 2006. The range of materials available to users for study, research and information purposes is also significant.
"The new website has been carefully designed and tested, but as with any new digital solution, it may initially contain functionality errors that have not yet been noticed," said the Saeima release, with website users invited to report any glitches they might find. And while the new look may be more instantly appealing, anyone (such as journalists) who had occasion to regularly use the old-style site will view its departure with a pang of regret as, compared to most other parliamentary sites, it was always brilliantly up to date and helpful (provided you knew where to look).
Check out the new look for yourself at: https://www.saeima.lv/
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