Latvian President Warns of Potential Threats to Judicial Independence

On February 20, 2026, President Edgars Rinkēvičs returned the Law on Special Pensions for Judges and Prosecutors to the Saeima for reconsideration. He emphasized that judicial independence is closely tied to financial security and expressed concerns that the proposed changes could undermine this principle. The President urged the Saeima to ensure that any reforms align with constitutional guarantees of judicial independence, highlighting the need for a thorough evaluation of the law's impact on the judiciary.