The Latvian Constitutional Court: Dialogue and cooperation among constitutional bodies

This chapter presents the relationship between the Latvian Constitutional Court (LaCC) and the Latvian Parliament. The analysis indicates that the average strength of rulings is not characterized by stability, but rather by frequent ups and downs. These fluctuations indicate different periods in the relationship between the Court and the legislature. The data also reflect that in the period beginning in 2015, the LaCC had to rule on highly contested issues that led to polarization of the judges’ opinions. The data show that the LaCC has always sought to engage in respectful dialog with the legislators. While the case law shows that the Court has exercised self-restraint on certain issues (tax regulation and fundamental social rights), it has not shied away from taking strong decisions when necessary.