• National Population Census registers 1,9 million persons residing in Latvia
• Speaker of the Saeima Solvita Aboltina: Russians are not evil

1, 9 million persons residing in Latvia have been registered in the recently held National Population Census, which  is by 480,000 persons fewer than in the previous census held in 2000. 50,000 persons were registered as emigrants. According to the data of the Population Register 2, 2 million inhabitants were residing in Latvia in early April. Demographer Ilmars Mezs believes that about 200,000 – 250,000 persons who have not been registered in the census have most likely emigrated from the country. The precise number of Latvian residents will be known by the end of the year.

1, 9 million persons residing in Latvia have been registered in the recently held National Population Census, which is by 480,000 persons fewer than in the previous census held in 2000. 50,000 persons were registered as emigrants. According to the data of the Population Register 2, 2 million inhabitants were residing in Latvia in early April. Demographer Ilmars Mezs believes that about 200,000 – 250,000 persons who have not been registered in the census have most likely emigrated from the country. The precise number of Latvian residents will be known by the end of the year. Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Diena, Neatkariga, Latvijas Avize

Solvita Aboltina, the Speaker of the Saeima, the leader of the political union “Unity” commenting statements of some experts that ethnic Latvian parties forming the new government will have to choose between the two evils – the Russians and the oligarchs, states that Russians are not evil. By “evil” Mrs Aboltina understands policy aimed against the constitutional values. Mrs Aboltina believes that the fact that one third of Latvia’s citizens votes for the Concord Centre (CC) is a signal that this party should come to power some day. However, the speaker considers that the CC’s policy attempts to question constitutional values.

Solvita Aboltina, the Speaker of the Saeima, the leader of the political union Unity commenting statements of some experts that ethnic Latvian parties forming the new government will have to choose between the two evils – the Russians and the oligarchs, states that Russians are not evil. By evil Mrs Aboltina understands policy aimed against the constitutional values. Mrs Aboltina believes that the fact that one third of Latvias citizens votes for the Concord Centre (CC) is a signal that this party should come to power some day. However, the speaker considers that the CCs policy attempts to question constitutional values. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

• Collection of signatures in support of the Constitutional amendments foreseeing state funded primary and secondary education only in the state language failed
• FHRUL will position itself as the only honest Russian party in Latvia

The collection of signatures in support of the Constitutional amendments foreseeing state funded primary and secondary education only in the state language has failed. least 153,232 signatures required for initiation of the national referendum, 123,800 signatures were collected. As reported, the collection of signatures was initiated by the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-TB/LNNK. Despite the failure, the leaders of the All for Latvia! stated that they will continue to work for their aim regarding the state language and education by other means, such as  the elaboration of the amendments to the Education Law.

The collection of signatures in support of the Constitutional amendments foreseeing state funded primary and secondary education only in the state language has failed. least 153,232 signatures required for initiation of the national referendum, 123,800 signatures were collected. As reported, the collection of signatures was initiated by the nationalists union All for Latvia!-TB/LNNK. Despite the failure, the leaders of the All for Latvia! stated that they will continue to work for their aim regarding the state language and education by other means, such as the elaboration of the amendments to the Education Law. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, Diena, Neatkariga

The party

The party For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) held their congress about their pre-election campaign at possible extraordinary Saeima elections to be conducted in September. Leaders of the FHRUL stated that their policy will be based on two main issues – limiting of the power of money in politics and granting Russian the status of the second official language in Latvia. The FHRUL will position it self as the only honest Russian party in Latvia. Telegraf, Chas

• Saeima supported in the final reading draft amendments to the parliamentary regulations regarding those MPs who have insufficient state language proficiency
• Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte: new draft integration program emphasizes social memory
• Diena features an article by the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Latvia Tomašs Pštrošs about integration policy in Latvia

Yesterday, the Saeima supported in the final reading draft amendments to the parliamentary regulations regarding those MPs who have insufficient state language proficiency. According to the amendments, a request to check state language proficiency of an MP should be submitted by at least 20 MPs. If the level of language proficiency is acknowledged as insufficient the Saeima will have the right to decide on the expulsion of the MP from the parliament.

Yesterday, the Saeima supported in the final reading draft amendments to the parliamentary regulations regarding those MPs who have insufficient state language proficiency. According to the amendments, a request to check state language proficiency of an MP should be submitted by at least 20 MPs. If the level of language proficiency is acknowledged as insufficient the Saeima will have the right to decide on the expulsion of the MP from the parliament. Neatkariga

Diena prints an article about integration policy in Latvia and elaboration of the new integration program by the Ministry of Culture. The Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte states that the new draft integration program considerably differs from the previous programs by its emphasis on social memory. The Minister believes that the split of social memory in the society can be solved by explanation of Latvian, European and Russian history in schools and to the rest of the society; by more serious evaluation of European history and clear position that Nazi and Stalins regime crimes should be evaluated on the equal criteria; and by active attraction of Russian speaking children to Latvian language kindergartens and schools.

Diena features an article by the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Latvia Tomašs Pštrošs about integration policy in Latvia. Mr. Pštrošs believes that every integration concept in Latvia which is based on „national principal will be unsuccessful because it will not reach ethnic non-Latvian residents. Mr. Pštrošs believes that Latvia needs the integration concept in which ethnic and cultural identity will not have the determinant significance. According to the Ambassador, integration should be based on values and aims which are surpassing over ethnic lines.

• Man sentenced to 10 months of suspended detention for denial of genocide and incitement to ethnic hatred
• Special amendments to be accepted to dismiss policemen with insufficient state language proficiency
• Opinion polls about inclusion of the Concord Centre in the governing coalition show different results

The Riga Regional Court sentenced a man to 10 months of suspended detention for denial of genocide and incitement to ethnic hatred. In March 2010, the man wrote comments on the Internet forum denying genocide against Jews and published materials supporting genocide against ethnic Latvians. The man got sentenced according to the Article 74.1 of the Criminal Code (Denial of genocide, crimes against humanity, and crimes against peace and justification of war crimes) and the Article 78 (Instigation of national, ethnic and race hatred.) Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

According to the State Police, there are still 76 policemen with insufficient Latvian language proficiency. 36 of those are in the process of improving language skills. However, despite insufficient language skills, it is not possible to dismiss the policemen in the framework of the existing legal acts. Therefore, the Saeima should accept special amendments to the Law on service in institutions of the Ministry of Interior and in the Prison Administration. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

According to an opinion poll conducted by newspaper Neatkariga, 69% of respondents do not support inclusion of the Concord Centre (CC) in the governing coalition. At the same time, an opinion poll conducted by the research agency TNS Latvia shows that 52% of Latvian residents support inclusion of the CC in the government. Among the arguments why the CC should not be in the government respondents of the Neatkarigas poll mention that the party is pro-Russian, its members are not proficient in Latvian, and that it is influenced by the Russias government. Neatkariga

• Linguist Iveta Porina: transition of all state funded schools only into Latvian language would promote concord in the society

Linguist Iveta Porina in an interview with

Linguist Iveta Porina in an interview with Latvijas Avize states that transition of all state funded schools only into Latvian language would promote concord in the society and strengthen state language as a common foundation of the society. Mrs Porina believes that existence of ethnic Latvians is endangered and one of the ways how to protect it is change of education policy. As reported, collection of signatures for support of the Constitutional amendments foreseeing state funded primary and secondary education only in the state language ends on 9 June and up to now 50,204 of required 153,232 signatures are collected.