Issues of Legal Understanding of Confidence in the Republic of Latvia

The authors of the article continue the ongoing discussion on the consolidation of the term “loyalty” in Latvian regulatory framework, confirming that sometimes this word is unjustifiably replaced by the term “confidence”. This is often observed in official translations of regulatory acts. Strengthening both of these concepts in Latvian regulatory framework is of essential importance, taking into account both the overall geopolitical situation and national security risks. This issue has been relevant in Latvia and worldwide for a long time, but it gained particular attention in the Republic of Latvia in January 2024, when the Saeima, responding to the wishes of the population, amended the State Administration Structure Law, supplementing it with the “Obligation of Allegiance”. The authors of the current article analyse the content of the concepts “confidence”, “trust”, and “loyalty”, pointing out significant differences in the content and understanding of these concepts. The authors emphasize that the different interpretations and translations of the aforementioned concepts can create confusion in the application of legal norms. In conclusion, the authors call for a more precise definition and distinction of the concepts of “loyalty” and “confidence” in Latvian regulatory framework in order to eliminate possible ambiguities and improve the application of legal norms.