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.

Press Review

Central Election Commission announced the official election results on Friday, and they correspond to the unofficial results, announced some time ago. Lists of 6 parties have been elected to the Saeima -

Central Election Commission announced the official election results on Friday, and they correspond to the unofficial results, announced some time ago. Lists of 6 parties have been elected to the Saeima - Peoples Party with 203 585 votes and 24 mandates, Latvijas Cels - 173 420 votes and 21 mandates, TB/LNNK- 140 773 votes and 17 mandates, Peoples Harmony Party - 135 700 votes and 16 mandates, Union of Social Democrats - 123 056 votes and 14 mandates and New Party - 70 214 votes and 8 mandates. Diena, Jauna Avize, Lauku Avize, Chas, SM, Panorama Latvii

The announcement of

The announcement of TB/LNNK about the need primarily to agree on basic tasks for the new government and only afterwards about posts and that the party sees the priority in forming a stable majority government means a change in government formation process. This statement was made by A.Skele. He told that three major parties should start discussion on forming a government on principles of parity. Latvijas Cels candidate V.Kristopans said that the real formation of government would start only when the President announced the candidate to the post of the Prime Minister. The Chairman of TB/LNNK M.Grinblats acknowledged that TB/LNNK did not intend to sign any co-operation agreement with Social Democrats on their participation in the government. These words opened a door for Peoples Party that found it unacceptable to be in one government with Social Democrats. Nevertheless TB/LNNK have not made any decision preventing them from participation in a minority government. Diena, Rigas Balss

Diena commentator A.Ozolins thinks that this

Diena commentator A.Ozolins thinks that this TB/LNNK announcement as illogical as it seems clearly shows their support for a majority government but avoiding to express their attitude towards Latvijas Cels V.Kristopans. And A.Ozolins analyses three possible options of forming the new government. Diena

Jauna Avize

looks into the proposalsof TB/LNNK for the basic tasks for the new government. They stress a need for careful supervision of naturalization process, giving up a possibility to make stricter several norms of the Law on Citizenship depending on the factual procedure of naturalization process. Also V.Kristopans considers that naturalization process should be strict, precise but quick. Our task is to reduce the number of non-citizen in the state, because their great number is a hard burden for us.

Peoples Party

representative J.Legzdins agrees with the party leader A.Skele that there is political corruption in Latvia, and deputies not always act basing on their own opinion or the wish of voters but in favor of some finance groups that try to channel the process of privatization in the direction they want. That is the reason for failure to form a coalition. He also thinks that nomination of V.Kristopans as the future Prime Minister was a demand of these groups. representative J.Legzdins agrees with the party leader A.Skele that there is political corruption in Latvia, and deputies not always act basing on their own opinion or the wish of voters but in favor of some finance groups that try to channel the process of privatization in the direction they want. That is the reason for failure to form a coalition. He also thinks that nomination of V.Kristopans as the future Prime Minister was a demand of these groups.

SM

interviews V.Kristopans about the election results, current political situation and future prospects for the development of the country. interviews V.Kristopans about the election results, current political situation and future prospects for the development of the country. J.Urbanovics from

J.Urbanovics from Peoples Harmony Party thinks that this party won the referendum thus saving the image of Latvia. He predicts that within half a year their coalition will grow into a strong, monolith political power, and the majority will have to take into consideration their party. SM