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.

• Proposal to use taxpayers money to explain fundamental values on the eve of language referendum

Newspapers report various opinions about the proposal to use taxpayers’ money to explain to the voters fundamental values of Latvian state on the eve of the upcoming national referendum on amending the Constitution by adding the condition about Russian as the second official language. The Speaker of the Saeima Solvita Aboltina (Unity) already formulated that the “ideological leadership” for this initiative could be entrusted to the former Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte (Unity). Many commentators and politicians are sceptical about the proposal, while some are questioning neutrality of the campaign and warning against instructing voters with “correct” answer to the referendum. Another source of discontent is the suspicion that the state-financed campaign could be used to promote one specific political party and one of its leaders. Russian-language newspapers remark that this proposal represents a rare occasion when the mainstream politicians are willing to talk to the Russian minority. The majority of experts and politicians, including the President, believe that the constitutional amendments will not receive 771,350 votes required for the amendments to enter into force.

Newspapers report various opinions about the proposal to use taxpayers money to explain to the voters fundamental values of Latvian state on the eve of the upcoming national referendum on amending the Constitution by adding the condition about Russian as the second official language. The Speaker of the Saeima Solvita Aboltina (Unity) already formulated that the ideological leadership for this initiative could be entrusted to the former Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte (Unity). Many commentators and politicians are sceptical about the proposal, while some are questioning neutrality of the campaign and warning against instructing voters with correct answer to the referendum. Another source of discontent is the suspicion that the state-financed campaign could be used to promote one specific political party and one of its leaders. Russian-language newspapers remark that this proposal represents a rare occasion when the mainstream politicians are willing to talk to the Russian minority. The majority of experts and politicians, including the President, believe that the constitutional amendments will not receive 771,350 votes required for the amendments to enter into force. Diena, Latvijas Avize, NRA, Chas, Vesti Segodnya