• FF / LNIM adopted new programme at a party congress last Saturday

Newspapers reporting about the new programme adopted by the political party “For Fatherland and Freedom / the Latvian National Independence Movement” (FF/LNIM) at its congress last Saturday. The programme aims at development of ethnically Latvian Latvia. It seeks to increase the birthrate among ethnic Latvians, encourage emigration of ethnic minorities and Latvianize and de-Russify minorities. The party wants to amend legislation, obliging private companies operating in services sector to hire employees who do not speak Russian and switching all publically funded education to Latvian language of instruction. The party argues that availability of entertainment and mass-media in Russian language is distancing people of Latvia from the Western way of thinking. On international arena, the party pledges to insist that the Communist and the Nazi crimes are equal. It also argues that because of Soviet occupation it is immoral to celebrate the victory over the Nazis on 9 May and insists that Russia should not tell Latvia how to commemorate 16 March (unofficial day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires). Participants of the congress also discussed the possibility to make an alliance with “Unity”, “The Union of Greens and Farmers” and “All for Latvia!”

Newspapers reporting about the new programme adopted by the political party For Fatherland and Freedom / the Latvian National Independence Movement (FF/LNIM) at its congress last Saturday. The programme aims at development of ethnically Latvian Latvia. It seeks to increase the birthrate among ethnic Latvians, encourage emigration of ethnic minorities and Latvianize and de-Russify minorities. The party wants to amend legislation, obliging private companies operating in services sector to hire employees who do not speak Russian and switching all publically funded education to Latvian language of instruction. The party argues that availability of entertainment and mass-media in Russian language is distancing people of Latvia from the Western way of thinking. On international arena, the party pledges to insist that the Communist and the Nazi crimes are equal. It also argues that because of Soviet occupation it is immoral to celebrate the victory over the Nazis on 9 May and insists that Russia should not tell Latvia how to commemorate 16 March (unofficial day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires). Participants of the congress also discussed the possibility to make an alliance with Unity, The Union of Greens and Farmers and All for Latvia! Neatkariga, Diena, Chas, Vesti-segodya, Telegraf

• Members of municipal councils with insufficient state language proficiency might be deprived of mandate
• Number of applicants for naturalisation grows

The Saeima’s Committee on State Administration and Municipalities elaborates draft amendments stipulating that members of municipal councils with insufficient Latvian language proficiency might be deprived of mandate. Draft amendments stipulate that a municipal deputy with poor state language proficiency will be given 6 months to improve language skills but if during this time situation does not change the court will decide on deprivation of mandate. Municipal deputies are required to have the highest state language proficiency.

The Saeimas Committee on State Administration and Municipalities elaborates draft amendments stipulating that members of municipal councils with insufficient Latvian language proficiency might be deprived of mandate. Draft amendments stipulate that a municipal deputy with poor state language proficiency will be given 6 months to improve language skills but if during this time situation does not change the court will decide on deprivation of mandate. Municipal deputies are required to have the highest state language proficiency. Vesti Segodnya

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA), the number of applicants for naturalisation grew since takeover of the Naturalisation Board’s functions. Representatives of the OCMA explain it by the fact that it has more regional branches all over Latvia. The biggest group of naturalisation applicants is in the age of 18-30 years. At the same, there are almost no applicants in the age over 50.

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA), the number of applicants for naturalisation grew since takeover of the Naturalisation Boards functions. Representatives of the OCMA explain it by the fact that it has more regional branches all over Latvia. The biggest group of naturalisation applicants is in the age of 18-30 years. At the same, there are almost no applicants in the age over 50. Telegraf

• Latvijas Avize reports about a discussion Preservation of Latvian Language – is there a Common Interest?

Latvijas Avize reports about a discussion Preservation of Latvian Language – is there a Common Interest? organised by an NGO Humanitarian Perspective. Young people, members of the largest political parties took part in the discussion. The participants discussed state language norms in education and mass media and language policy. According to the majority of the participants, Latvian language proficiency of majority of ethnic non-Latvian young people has noticeably improved for the past years. The young people also agreed that Latvian language is state language which should unite society.

• LAShORs member: bilingual model of education in ethnic minority schools might be liquidated in the near future

According to one of the members of the Latvian Association for Support of Schools with Russian Language of Instruction (LAShOR) Valdis Ceic, bilingual model of education in ethnic minority schools might be liquidated in the near future. Mr. Ceic states that there is a tendency among Latvian linguists to consider that the time of bilingual education should be ended soon and state funded education should be only in Latvian language. Mr. Ceic considers that such attitude of academicians might capture minds of politicians who might change existing education policy.

According to one of the members of the Latvian Association for Support of Schools with Russian Language of Instruction (LAShOR) Valdis Ceic, bilingual model of education in ethnic minority schools might be liquidated in the near future. Mr. Ceic states that there is a tendency among Latvian linguists to consider that the time of bilingual education should be ended soon and state funded education should be only in Latvian language. Mr. Ceic considers that such attitude of academicians might capture minds of politicians who might change existing education policy. Telegraf

• Telegraf reports that the European Commission called on all the EU countries asking for active integration of Roma people
• State Language Centre drew 219 protocols on police workers for insufficient state language proficiency

Telegraf reports that the European Commission called on all the EU countries asking for active integration of Roma people in the society. There are about 10,000 Roma living in Latvia.

The State Language Centre drew 219 protocols on police workers for insufficient state language proficiency. 15 protocols were drawn on managing policemen. The majority of policemen work in Riga. According to a representative of the State Police, the legal norms regarding state language proficiency has changed several times and not all policemen followed them and therefore, the absence of required state language proficiency certificate does not mean that the policemen are not proficient in Latvian.

The State Language Centre drew 219 protocols on police workers for insufficient state language proficiency. 15 protocols were drawn on managing policemen. The majority of policemen work in Riga. According to a representative of the State Police, the legal norms regarding state language proficiency has changed several times and not all policemen followed them and therefore, the absence of required state language proficiency certificate does not mean that the policemen are not proficient in Latvian. Diena