Integration monitor is a daily Latvian press digest on ethnic minority and society integration issues. The Monitor reviews the biggest Latvian dailies: Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga (in Latvian language), Vesti Segodnya (in Russian language). In specific cases other information sources are used. Latvian Centre for Human Rights is not responsible for information published by the media.

• Latvian language for Members of Local Governments
• Three right wing parties are planning consolidation for the next years parliamentary elections

Diena reports that yesterday the Saeimas Public Administration and Local Government Committee decided to reject the proposal of the Fatherland and Freedom / LNIM to amend legislation and entitle the Saeima to annul the mandate of those members of local governments who are not sufficiently proficient in Latvian language. The Committee decided that a different solution should be found at its next meeting, because legislation does not foresee specific level of the state language knowledge for members of local governments. In the meantime, the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Governments Affairs received complains the some members of local governments in Riga, Rezekne, Daugavpils and Liepaja have insufficient knowledge of the Latvian language.

Newspapers report that the New Era, Civic Union and the Society for Other Politics are negotiating consolidation with the purpose of forming a new right wing political union for the next year’s parliamentary election. Proponents of the unification are claiming that together they will stand against “the rising influence of the Russian speaking parties”. Leader of the New Era Ms. Solvita Aboltina stated that the new union is “not going to propagate nationalism. We are going to stay with national politics based on the state language, the Satversme (Constitution) and democracy”.

Newspapers report that the New Era, Civic Union and the Society for Other Politics are negotiating consolidation with the purpose of forming a new right wing political union for the next years parliamentary election. Proponents of the unification are claiming that together they will stand against the rising influence of the Russian speaking parties. Leader of the New Era Ms. Solvita Aboltina stated that the new union is not going to propagate nationalism. We are going to stay with national politics based on the state language, the Satversme (Constitution) and democracy. Telegraf, Chas, Neatkariga, Latvijas Avize