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 Report

At the 24th conference of Latvian intelligence there was also a discussion on the location of political powers in the 7th Saeima and their wish to fulfil their pre-election promises. The representatives of

At the 24th conference of Latvian intelligence there was also a discussion on the location of political powers in the 7th Saeima and their wish to fulfil their pre-election promises. The representatives of Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK and Latvijas Cels expressed an opinion that the government would be formed with participation of Peoples Party. The Chairman of TB/LNNK M.Grinblats stressed that their party would not participate in coalition with Social Democrats. LC representative E.Inkens pointed out that the government might not be formed without support of Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK. He acknowledged that the obstacle to the formation of the new government was the subjective attitude towards exact persons. E.Inkens allowed the participation of Social Democrats in the government but only upon a condition that they in order to receive some minister posts would have to give up inclusion of their ideology in the government program. The politicians allowed that the question on the participation of PP or Social Democrats would be decided within few days. Neatkariga, Bizness & Baltiya

The new European Human Rights Court will receive five applications from Latvia that had been submitted earlier. According to the procedure a judge commission will decide whether these cases are to be considered by this court. Four of these cases are about everyday problems, one on the procedure of the election to the 6th Saeima.

The new European Human Rights Court will receive five applications from Latvia that had been submitted earlier. According to the procedure a judge commission will decide whether these cases are to be considered by this court. Four of these cases are about everyday problems, one on the procedure of the election to the 6th Saeima. Neatkariga, Diena

Rikard Berug, formed Head of Nordic Information Centre, thinks that the current development of political life in Latvia is illogical and opposite to the common sense. Looking at the events of the election night, he characterises the actions of V.Kristopans and A.Pantelejevs as light minded and completely opposite to the one of K.Libane in her TV interview a few hours later. Her comments showed her national thinking, trying to avoid blind alley situations and establish a constructive and favourable climate for discussions with all right wing parties. R.Berug characterises V.Kristopans’s behaviour as a feminine and that of K.Libane as a masculine one. In the current complicated situation Latvia needs a responsible, rationally thinking, honest prime minister, but according to the author of this article, V.Kristopans is not such a person. R.Berug names two possible candidates for this post, and they are A.Skele and A.Poca from

Rikard Berug, formed Head of Nordic Information Centre, thinks that the current development of political life in Latvia is illogical and opposite to the common sense. Looking at the events of the election night, he characterises the actions of V.Kristopans and A.Pantelejevs as light minded and completely opposite to the one of K.Libane in her TV interview a few hours later. Her comments showed her national thinking, trying to avoid blind alley situations and establish a constructive and favourable climate for discussions with all right wing parties. R.Berug characterises V.Kristopanss behaviour as a feminine and that of K.Libane as a masculine one. In the current complicated situation Latvia needs a responsible, rationally thinking, honest prime minister, but according to the author of this article, V.Kristopans is not such a person. R.Berug names two possible candidates for this post, and they are A.Skele and A.Poca from Latvijas Cels. Diena

Nellija Locmele from

Nellija Locmele from Diena still writes about the results of the Saeima election. This time she analyses Latvian election system where a voter may put a + or - opposite to the name of a candidate thus increasing his or her possibility to get a seat in the Saeima. The most popular in this respect was A.Skele - 49% of PP supporters put a + with his name. The most negative attitude was showed towards LC representative E.Inkens.

The parties that have signed the coalition agreement on working in the new government -

The parties that have signed the coalition agreement on working in the new government - Latvijas Cels, TB/LNNK and New Party are considering at their board meetings the question whom to invite as the fourth partner in the government coalition - Peoples Party or Social Democrats. The candidate to the post of the Prime Minister V.Kristopans anticipated that the final decision would not be made today. The Chairman of the Saeima LSDA faction E.Baldzens thinks that their party will be invited because Peoples Party is a party hard to cooperate with. He also does not see much difference among LSDA and other party programs. They are the same, only dressing and souse differ a little bit. In their turn the representatives of Latvijas Cels and TB/LNNK admitted at the conference of Latvian intelligence that Peoples Party would be the chosen one. Jauna Avize

Parties, elected to the Saeima, have agreed that one party might mot take the leading post at a ministry and the corresponding Saeima commission. On Friday the parties submitted their lists for 16 Saeima commissions. It is possible that the decision on commissions could be taken on Thursday, but the lists could change before the new Cabinet is formed. The parties have informed about the positions they would like to have.

Parties, elected to the Saeima, have agreed that one party might mot take the leading post at a ministry and the corresponding Saeima commission. On Friday the parties submitted their lists for 16 Saeima commissions. It is possible that the decision on commissions could be taken on Thursday, but the lists could change before the new Cabinet is formed. The parties have informed about the positions they would like to have. Peoples Party would go for the Saeima Budget and Finance, as well as Education an Science commissions nominating M.Vitols and Dz.Abikis for these posts. PP is also ready to head the commissions of Foreign Affairs ( V.Paegle) and State Administration and Municipality (K.Greiskalns). Latvijas Cels goes for Human Rights and Public Affairs commission (A.Seiksts), Budget and Finance, Social and Employment affairs, National Security and European Affairs commissions. Also Social Democrats would rather head Social and Employment Affairs commission (A.Barca), and National Economy Rural, Environment and Regional Policy commissions. Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK claims the leading posts in Foreign Affairs, Budget and Finances, Defense and Internal Affairs well as Social and Employment Affairs commissions. And New Party is ready to delegates its representatives to different Saeima commissions.

N.Lebedeva from

N.Lebedeva from SM interviews the Head of OSCE Mission Richard Samuel on his last days in Latvia. It was rather busy time for the Head of the Mission . Mr. Samuel told the journalist that, when he came here, he did not expect any amendments to the Law on Citizenship to be made, but these amendments had opened a door to a considerable part of non-citizens for naturalization. N.Lebedeva was rather skeptic about the speed of naturalization process and that non-citizens would be able to naturalize with no problems. Answering to this, R.Samuel said that there should be soon changes in the process of naturalization and described the activities of the Mission in cooperation with the Naturalization Board. When asked about the adoption of the new law on education not corresponding to OSCE recommendations, R.Samuel expressed his incomprehension about this situation when the law on education was adopted before the law on the state language. They should be two parallel processes. SM