The move to exit the treaty was initiated by the right-wing opposition party, Latvia First, receiving backing from a member of the ruling coalition. The centrist Union of Greens and Farmers parted ways with Prime Minister Evika Siliņa to support the bill’s passage.
Ingūna Millere, from Latvia First, informed POLITICO that the Istanbul Convention represented “radical feminism” and Latvia’s ratification was “political marketing” unrelated to fighting violence.
The withdrawal effort faced strong criticism from human rights organizations, who argued it would undermine women’s rights in Latvia. On the eve of the vote, approximately 5,000 protesters gathered outside parliament with signs like “Hands off the Istanbul Convention” and “Latvia is not Russia.”
Tamar Dekanosidze of Equality Now stated that the bill seeks to cast gender equality measures as an “LGBTQ agenda,” using a narrative reminiscent of Kremlin rhetoric to position politicians as protectors of “national values” before elections.
She warned that such a move aligns Latvia’s values and governance more closely with Russia than the EU, serving Russian interests in the region.
For Latvia’s withdrawal to proceed, it needs the backing of President Edgars Rinkēvičs, who indicated he would assess the law and announce his decision within 10 days. Should it occur, Latvia would be the second country to leave the convention after Turkey’s 2021 withdrawal.
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