Digitalisation as a Solution for Ensuring Continuity of Parliament Functions during the COVID-19 Crisis and Its Impact on the Work of the Parliament

Description

To ensure the continuity of its functions in the conditions of the Covid19 pandemic, the Parliament of Latvia (Saeima) sought and implemented e-solutions in its work, implementing digitalization and digital transformation.. Comparative data analysis and chi-square method are used as a research method in the work. The data gave an opportunity to compare how the work of the Saeima has changed under the conditions of the Covid19 pandemic, using technological solutions, compared to the previous convocation of the Parliament, when the work took place in person.. The conducted research, using the chi-square method, shows that there are significant differences between the work of the 12th and 13th Saeima. Research data show that compared to the pre-crisis period, for example, the number of votes in plenary sessions has decreased (12th Saeima – 5277; 13th Saeima – 1295); while the number of debaters has increased (12th Saeima – 6401; 13th Saeima – 12789). At the same time, it gives rise to assumptions that MPs feel safer speaking in the e-environment than debating in person. The available resources, technical support, as well as the digital skills of MPs and employees contributed to the possibility of implementing digitalization and introducing new solutions. On the one hand, the legislative process worsened when MPs performed their duties in the e-environment, but on the other hand, the result cannot be evaluated as negative.. The "e-Saeima" platform ensured the most important procedures and could be used in the future if the country were hit by Covid19 or another crisis that would interfere with the possibility of gathering in person. At the same time, such a platform should also be applicable in the work of commissions, thus ensuring: 1) secure authentication of MPs, employees, and guests; 2) the opportunity to debate and view documents; 3) secure and transparent voting.

Period	31 Mar 2023
Event title	RSU Research week 2023: PLACES
Event type	Conference
Conference number	3
Organiser	Rīga Stradiņš University
Location	Rīga, LatviaShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International