ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Madara Melnika

Madara Meļņika is a legal clerk at the Constitutional Court of Latvia. The opinions expressed are entirely her own and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of any institution to which she is affiliated.

POSTS BY Madara Meļņika

02 February 2021

Defining the Modern Family

In November 2020, the Constitutional Court of Latvia recognised that the Constitution of Latvia (Satversme) obliges the state to protect all families, including those established by same-sex couples. The judgement was met with considerable political backlash and at the beginning of January prompted the right‑wing party Nacionālā Apvienība to submit an initiative to amend the Satversme with a new, excluding definition of family. Perhaps more worrisome is how the amendment and the associated campaign openly attack the authority of the Constitutional Court. Continue reading >>

12 September 2018

Madara Meļņika, Julian Senders

Self-Protecting Democracy and Electoral Rights

On October 6 the Republic of Latvia will hold its general election. The air is already sparkling with emotions: populism, fake news and other nowadays much discussed components of election campaigns are all part of it. Even the Constitutional Court of Latvia had its say in the upcoming events by delivering a judgment on a law denying access to stand as a candidate in the election. Continue reading >>