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.

• President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers will proclaim the amendments raising fines for insufficient usage of state language
• Union of Citizens and Non-citizens plans to establish a movement for granting voting rights to non-citizens in municipal elections
• All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM proposes to delete an article from the Immigration Law which stipulates granting residence permits to foreigners who possess real estate in Latvia

Neatkariga reports that the NGO Latvian Human Rights Committee appealed to the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers asking not to proclaim the amendments to the Administrative Violations Code which raise fines for insufficient usage of state language. However, the President decided to proclaim the amendments.

An NGO Union of Citizens and Non-citizens came with an initiative to establish a movement called “2013”. The main aim of the movement would be to achieve granting voting rights to non-citizens in municipal elections in 2013. According to the head on the NGO, this initiative is not a part of pre-election campaign of any party. The head of the NGO believes that solving  the problem would be essential for development of democracy in Latvia.

An NGO Union of Citizens and Non-citizens came with an initiative to establish a movement called 2013. The main aim of the movement would be to achieve granting voting rights to non-citizens in municipal elections in 2013. According to the head on the NGO, this initiative is not a part of pre-election campaign of any party. The head of the NGO believes that solving the problem would be essential for development of democracy in Latvia. Chas

The nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM proposes to delete an article from the Immigration Law which stipulates granting residence permits to foreigners who possess real estate in Latvia. The nationalists believe that such norm deforms real estate market in the country and results in rising prices for apartments and houses. MPs from the Concord Centre do not agree with that arguing that only owners of expensive real estate can receive the residence permit and it does not impact prices on ordinary apartments. However, the majority of the Saeima supported the proposed draft amendments in the first reading and forwarded those to the parliamentary committees.

The nationalists union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM proposes to delete an article from the Immigration Law which stipulates granting residence permits to foreigners who possess real estate in Latvia. The nationalists believe that such norm deforms real estate market in the country and results in rising prices for apartments and houses. MPs from the Concord Centre do not agree with that arguing that only owners of expensive real estate can receive the residence permit and it does not impact prices on ordinary apartments. However, the majority of the Saeima supported the proposed draft amendments in the first reading and forwarded those to the parliamentary committees. Vesti Segodnya