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 Review

Press Review

A day before the Presidential elections no candidate has clear majority support. The only fraction which has not nominated its own candidate - For Human Rights - will give their vote to the candidate of the New Party Raimonds Pauls. Thus, Raimonds Pauls provisionally has 24 votes, Anatolijs Gorbunovs (the Latvian Way) - 21; Vaira Paegle (People’s Party) - 24 votes.

A day before the Presidential elections no candidate has clear majority support. The only fraction which has not nominated its own candidate - For Human Rights - will give their vote to the candidate of the New Party Raimonds Pauls. Thus, Raimonds Pauls provisionally has 24 votes, Anatolijs Gorbunovs (the Latvian Way) - 21; Vaira Paegle (Peoples Party) - 24 votes. Diena

Yesterday the Saeima Standing Committee on Implementation of the Citizenship Law decided that the combining of the Latvian language examination for graduation with the language examination for naturalisation conducted by the Ministry of Education and the Naturalisation Board, does not comply with the valid legislation. Therefore, the results of the graduation examination will not be taken into consideration when applying for the naturalisation.

Yesterday the Saeima Standing Committee on Implementation of the Citizenship Law decided that the combining of the Latvian language examination for graduation with the language examination for naturalisation conducted by the Ministry of Education and the Naturalisation Board, does not comply with the valid legislation. Therefore, the results of the graduation examination will not be taken into consideration when applying for the naturalisation.

Minister of Education Janis Gaigals and the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane admitted that the combining of two exams had been just an experiment whose results will be analysed to introduce such practice later.

Minister of Education Janis Gaigals and the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane admitted that the combining of two exams had been just an experiment whose results will be analysed to introduce such practice later. Diena

Yesterday at the request of For Fatherland and Freedom, People’s Party and Social Democrats fractions the Saeima Presidium decided to summon an extraordinary session of the Saeima right after the first round of the Presidential elections to decide what to do with the draft language law. It is planned that deputies will ask the Saeima Standing Committee on Education, Culture and Science to prepare the draft language law for the 3rd reading by 2 July. The consideration of the draft law might take place on 8 July. (

Yesterday at the request of For Fatherland and Freedom, Peoples Party and Social Democrats fractions the Saeima Presidium decided to summon an extraordinary session of the Saeima right after the first round of the Presidential elections to decide what to do with the draft language law. It is planned that deputies will ask the Saeima Standing Committee on Education, Culture and Science to prepare the draft language law for the 3rd reading by 2 July. The consideration of the draft law might take place on 8 July. (Diena and Chas, however, inform that it is already decided that the extraordinary session on draft language law will take place on 8 July).

Yesterday the deputy from Fatherland and Freedom Juris Dobelis was elected to be a member of the Standing Committee on Education.

Yesterday the deputy from Fatherland and Freedom Juris Dobelis was elected to be a member of the Standing Committee on Education.

The issue of the draft language law was considered also at the meeting of the EU and Latvian Associative Committee. Director of the EC Directorate General on Central European Affairs C. Deja (spelling) said that drafting of an alternative draft language law would solve the problems around the law. She admitted that EU will carefully follow the consideration of this law.

The issue of the draft language law was considered also at the meeting of the EU and Latvian Associative Committee. Director of the EC Directorate General on Central European Affairs C. Deja (spelling) said that drafting of an alternative draft language law would solve the problems around the law. She admitted that EU will carefully follow the consideration of this law. Neatkariga

The Riga City Council is looking for premises for Latvian Community of the Russian Culture due the building where the office of the organisation was located has been returned to its former owner.

The Riga City Council is looking for premises for Latvian Community of the Russian Culture due the building where the office of the organisation was located has been returned to its former owner. Diena