<P> In many local governments, it establishes the regulations about information disclosure (情報 公開 条例) from the latter half of the 1980s . </P> <P> The Constitution of Latvia states: "Article 100 . Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes the right to freely receive, keep and distribute information and to express his or her views . Censorship is prohibited ." The right to access state held information has been repeatedly recognised by the Constitutional Court of Latvia, most notably in its judgment "On Conformity of the Cabinet of Ministers 21 January 1997 Regulations No. 46 "On Government Agreements" with the 20 November 1998 "Information Accessibility Law" </P> <P> The Law on Freedom of Information was signed into law by the State President in November 1998 and has been amended a number of times recently . Any person can ask for information in "any technically feasible form" without having to show a reason . The request can be oral or written . Bodies must respond in 15 days . </P> <P> On the 1st of September 2012, Legal Notice 156 of 2012 brought the Freedom of Information Act (Chapter 496 of the Laws of Malta) fully into force, allowing the public (resident citizens of Malta, the EU and the EEA) to submit requests for documents / information held by the Government . FOI requests are submitted free of charge but processing of documents by public authorities may require the public to pay fees which never exceed Eur 40 . When access to documents is refused, the FOIA in Malta provides for a complaint and appeal mechanism that can be ultimately resolved through the Courts of Appeal . </P>

Does the press have a right to know