Podcast of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia “Tversme”

In 2021, celebrating the 25th anniversary of its existence, as well as to create a new dimension in the dialogue with society, the Constitutional Court of Latvia established the podcast Tversme, which discusses the values enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia (hereinafter – the Constitution) and the role of the Constitutional Court in a democratic state governed by the rule of law.

The aim of the podcast of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia Tversme is to increase everyone’s interest and knowledge about the values of a democratic state governed by the rule of law, the application of constitutional norms and the work of the Constitutional Court. The Judges and staff of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia participate in the production of the podcast Tversme.

In the 23rd episode of the podcast, Susanne Baer, the former Judge of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany and Professor at the Department of Law of Humboldt University Berlin, and Kristaps Tamužs, the Head of the Legal Department of the Constitutional Court, discussed comparative constitutional law, a Juddge’s duties of office, the dialogue between a constitutional court and the Court of Justice of the European Union, as well as principles of dignity, equality and good legislative procedure, as well as interdisciplinary gender studies.

The 22nd episode of the podcast offers a conversation between Mārtiņš Mits and Artūrs Kučs about human rights and a judge’s duties. The Judges discuss matters of human rights protection on the national and international level, importance of the dialogue between the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights, as well as the traditions in the administration of justice. The Judges share their reflections on experience gained from important cases and discuss the characteristics that a contemporary judge needs.

In the 21st episode of the podcast, President of the Constitutional Court Irēna Kucina converses with Former President of the Republic of Ireland and Professor at the University of Iceland Guðni T. Jóhannesson. The episode provides unique insight into Mr Jóhannesson’s experience, not only in the capacity of the leader of a state but also as a historian. During the conversation, he shares his reflections on major challenges that democratic states currently face – from the impact of technologies and power of social media up to international relations and the impact of warfare upon Europe. The conversation sheds light on the topic of societal cohesion, the rule of law and individual responsibility and also takes and inspiring view on how small nations can impact global processes, maintaining their core values.

In the 20th episode of the podcast, President of the Constitutional Court Irēna Kucina discusses with President of “4 May Declaration Club” Velta Čebotarenoka restoration of Latvia’s independence, statehood, freedom, and values. Referring to our shared responsibility for Latvia’s future, for safeguarding its freedom and independence, Velta Čebotarenoka underscored: “We must be vigilant and alert, must be knowledgeable, must be united. We should not squabble. We should trust our State, our people. We should talk to people, explain our work, our mistakes.”

The 19th episode of the podcast offers the recording of the Conversation about Latvia, organised by the Constitutional Court and the National Library of Latvia.

In the 18th episode of the podcast, Vice-President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia Anita Rodiņa talks with former Judge of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia Gunārs Kusiņš. In the conversation, Gunārs Kusiņš shares his experience working as a Judge, emphasizing the principles, values, and collegiality enshrined in the Constitution in the work of the Constitutional Court.

In the 17th episode of the podcast, former Judge of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia Gunārs Kusiņš talks with member of the Supreme Council of Latvia and former Judge of the Constitutional Court Ilma Čepāne. The conversation reveals the professional experience and vision of Ilma Čepāne regarding the case law of the Constitutional Court, the execution of judgments, possible amendments of the Constitutional Court Law and current issues of environmental sustainability.

In the 16th episode of the podcast, Judge of the Constitutional Court Gunārs Kusiņš and public international law professor at the University College London and member of the UN International Law Commission Mārtiņš Paparinskis are discussing the competences and importance of the Commission, the recognition of the Constitutional Court’s judgments internationally, as well as the balancing of several legal systems and other topics. The interview was recorded as part of the international conference “The Role of the Constitutional Courts in Concretising the Shared Values Uniting Europe” organized by the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia.

In the 15th episode of the podcast, President of the Constitutional Court of Latvia Aldis Laviņš and Professor of the Faculty of Law at the Ludwig-Maximillians-University München Peter M. Huber are discussing the role of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany, the concept of human dignity in German law, the interaction between branches of state power, the rights of future generations, and the common fundamental values of Europe.

In the 14th episode of the podcast, Judge of the Constitutional Court Jautrīte Briede talks with the winners of the student creative work competition “The Dignity of Every Person in the Digital Environment”: Ance Rozemberga-Kokina, Sofija Stankus, Emīlija Katrīne-Kāta, and Kate Birzgale. In the conversation, the young people share their thoughts on dignity, everyday challenges in the digital environment, their vision for the future of the country, and their role in it.

In the 13th episode of the podcast, President of the Constitutional Court of Latvia Aldis Laviņš and President of European Court of Human Rights Siofra O’Leary are discussing challenges faced by the European Court of Human Rights, significance of judicial dialogue and bringing justice to everyone.

In the 12th episode of the podcast, President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia Aldis Laviņš and President of Latvia (1999-2007) Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga talk about the strength of the people’s spirit, humanity, democratic values ​​and everyone’s right to freedom.

In the 11th episode of the podcast, Aldis Laviņš, the President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Latvia, and Kari Kuusiniemi, the President of the Supreme Administrative Court of Finland, discuss the role of constitutional courts in restoring peace and international order during crises, as well as the Finnish model of constitutional control and the Supreme Administrative Court’s case law and views on international cooperation.

In the tenth episode of the podcast, Irēna Kucina, the Vice-President of the Constitutional Court, and Dineke de Groot, the President of the Supreme Court of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, talk about the tradition of constitutional review and protection of constitutional values in the Netherlands, the approach to international and European Union law within the meaning of the Dutch Supreme Court, as well as the impact of modern technologies on court proceedings.

In the ninth episode of the podcast, Aldis Laviņš, the President of the Constitutional Court, talks to the winners of student essay competition of the Constitutional Court: Karīna Kondore, the 9th grade student of Bauska State Gymnasium, and Beāte Sannija Aploka, the 12th grade student of Jelgava Spīdolas State Gymnasium, about their experience in the competition and their understanding of the fundamental values of a democratic state governed by the rule of law as enshrined in the Constitution.

In the eighth episode of the podcast, Kristaps Tamužs, the Head of the Legal Department of the Constitutional Court and Helen Keller, the Deputy President of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, had a conversation  about sustainability and fundamental rights.

In the seventh episode of the podcast, Irēna Kucina, the Vice-President of the Constitutional Court, talks to Danutė Jočienė, the President of the Constitutional Court of Lithuania, about the cooperation between the constitutional courts of Latvia and Lithuania, their common challenges and the role of constitutional courts in promoting the sustainability of democracy.

In the sixth episode of the podcast, Artūrs Kučs, the Judge of the Constitutional Court, talks to Herdis Kjerulf Torgeirsdóttir, the Vice-President of the Venice Commission, about fundamental rights in the age of modern technology.

In the fifth episode of the podcast, Aldis Laviņš, the President of the Constitutional Court, talks to Serhiy Holovaty, the Acting President of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, about the Ukrainian people’s fight for freedom.

In the fourth episode of the podcast the discussions about Latvia “Are we United in Diversity?” organised by the Constitutional Court and the National Library of Latvia are available.

In the third episode of the podcast, which is dedicated to the centenary of the Constitution, Sanita Osipova, the President of the Constitutional Court, talks to Dita Plepa, the Head of the Public Relations and Protocol Department.

In the second episode of the podcast , Koen Lenaerts, the President of the Court of Justice of the European Union, and Ineta Ziemele, the Judge of the Constitutional Court and President of the Constitutional Court (2015-2020), talk about the dialogue between the Constitutional Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union.

The first episode of the podcast, which is dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Constitutional Court, features Aivars Endziņš, the first President of the Constitutional Court, and Gunārs Kusiņš, the Judge of the Constitutional Court.