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

The four Latvian parliament factions: FF/LNNK, People’s Party, New Party, Social Democrats will sign an agreement protocol Wednesday, July 7 to formulate their attitude toward the suggested amendments to the Language law. After the July 6 meeting of the above parties and the president-elect Vaira Vike-Freiberga the party representatives said they could support the suggestion of the Saeima’s Legal Office to impose the state language to be used at the meetings only in companies where the state or a local government is the largest shareholder. However, the politicians decided to return to the formulation passed in the draft law’s second reading providing that the state language should be used in all public events since this provision had been successfully implemented and practised under the current law. The factions did not support Freiberga’s proposal to delay reading of the draft law till autumn. Freiberga mentioned that there is always a possibility to send the passed law for a repeated reviewing if there are grounded objections from the EU, however, she added, if the law is passed by a sure parliament majority and there are no serious drawbacks in the law she tended to respect the will of the majority and announce the law.

The four Latvian parliament factions: FF/LNNK, Peoples Party, New Party, Social Democrats will sign an agreement protocol Wednesday, July 7 to formulate their attitude toward the suggested amendments to the Language law. After the July 6 meeting of the above parties and the president-elect Vaira Vike-Freiberga the party representatives said they could support the suggestion of the Saeimas Legal Office to impose the state language to be used at the meetings only in companies where the state or a local government is the largest shareholder. However, the politicians decided to return to the formulation passed in the draft laws second reading providing that the state language should be used in all public events since this provision had been successfully implemented and practised under the current law. The factions did not support Freibergas proposal to delay reading of the draft law till autumn. Freiberga mentioned that there is always a possibility to send the passed law for a repeated reviewing if there are grounded objections from the EU, however, she added, if the law is passed by a sure parliament majority and there are no serious drawbacks in the law she tended to respect the will of the majority and announce the law. Diena columnist fears that the attempts of FF/LNNK to make parts of the draft law tougher may cause problems for the country and confront the president-elect with the parliament. (Diena, Neatkariga)

BB, CM, Panorama Latvii

write about the press conference given by a politician from the left opposition faction For Human Rights in United Latvia Alexander Bartashevich who spoke critically of the current version of the draft law offering to either accept all OSCE recommendations or the suggestions coming from his faction that are more oriented toward the local situation as well as to improve the environment for learning the state language. Other articles in CM and PL express the concern about the decreasing role of the Russian language in the society. write about the press conference given by a politician from the left opposition faction For Human Rights in United Latvia Alexander Bartashevich who spoke critically of the current version of the draft law offering to either accept all OSCE recommendations or the suggestions coming from his faction “that are more oriented toward the local situation” as well as to improve the environment for learning the state language. Other articles in CM and PL express the concern about the decreasing role of the Russian language in the society. People’s Party and FF/LNNK have started official negotiations with Social Democrats and New Party about forming the new government while the relations with Latvia’s Way are still unclear although Latvia’s Way announced July 6 that the best government model would include the three biggest parties. The model will be more clear by this Friday. The new prime minister most likely will be nominated by the newly elected president as July 7 is the last day for Guntis Ulmanis in the office. His personal opinion expressed on Tuesday was that the prime minister should come from a political party and shouldn’t be picked among the former prime ministers. After People’s Party and FF/LNNK, the new government will be small - without the state ministers, also, it has been mentioned that the foreign minister’s office will not be given to Latvia’s Way even if the party will be in the government.

Peoples Party and FF/LNNK have started official negotiations with Social Democrats and New Party about forming the new government while the relations with Latvias Way are still unclear although Latvias Way announced July 6 that the best government model would include the three biggest parties. The model will be more clear by this Friday. The new prime minister most likely will be nominated by the newly elected president as July 7 is the last day for Guntis Ulmanis in the office. His personal opinion expressed on Tuesday was that the prime minister should come from a political party and shouldnt be picked among the former prime ministers. After Peoples Party and FF/LNNK, the new government will be small - without the state ministers, also, it has been mentioned that the foreign ministers office will not be given to Latvias Way even if the party will be in the government.