• Ex-Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis: Latvia will have ethnic Russian prime minister if ethnic Latvian parties do not reach agreement for co-operation
• Concord Centre continues to be the most popular political party in Latvia
• Members of nationalistic party All for Latvia! call young people to join their party

According to

According to Telegraf, the ex-Prime Minister, MP Aigars Kalvitis (Peoples Party) stated that, the Concord Centre, most probably, will form governing coalition after the next Saeimas elections and Latvia will have ethnic Russian prime minister. Experts interviewed by the newspaper consider that such statement is aimed at scaring ethnic Latvian electorate by Russians are coming slogan.

According to the latest public opinion survey, the Concord Centre continues to be the most popular political party in Latvia – 15,7% of Latvian residents support it. The Union of Greens and Farmers is supported by 7,4% and the New Era by 5,8%. Other parties are supported by less than 5% of residents.

According to the latest public opinion survey, the Concord Centre continues to be the most popular political party in Latvia – 15,7% of Latvian residents support it. The Union of Greens and Farmers is supported by 7,4% and the New Era by 5,8%. Other parties are supported by less than 5% of residents. Diena

Vesti Segodnya reports that members of nationalistic party All for Latvia! held meetings with students of Latvian schools and call them to join the party.

• Government conceptually supported reorganisation of the Naturalisation Board and its merger with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs

The government conceptually supported reorganisation of the Naturalisation Board and its merger with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs under the subordination of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. If the Saeima supports the decision, the Naturalisation Board will be reorganised on 1 January 2010.

The government conceptually supported reorganisation of the Naturalisation Board and its merger with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs under the subordination of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. If the Saeima supports the decision, the Naturalisation Board will be reorganised on 1 January 2010. Vesti Segodnya

• Concord Centre calls on all residents of Latvia to celebrate truly two up-coming national holidays – the Day of Lacplesis and the Independence Day of Latvia

The Saeima’s faction the Concord Centre (CC) appealed to all residents of Latvia calling on them to celebrate truly two up-coming national holidays – the Day of Lacplesis (or commemoration day of victory in the Riga battle over the Bermontians in 1918 celebrated on 11 November) and the Day of Independence of Latvia (celebrated on 18 November.) The CC calls not to turn these two the most important days for Latvia into mono-ethnic celebrations and to allow national radicals to raise again ethnic issues that split the society. The CC believes that the two holidays should finally become celebrations for all Latvian residents.

The Saeimas faction the Concord Centre (CC) appealed to all residents of Latvia calling on them to celebrate truly two up-coming national holidays – the Day of Lacplesis (or commemoration day of victory in the Riga battle over the Bermontians in 1918 celebrated on 11 November) and the Day of Independence of Latvia (celebrated on 18 November.) The CC calls not to turn these two the most important days for Latvia into mono-ethnic celebrations and to allow national radicals to raise again ethnic issues that split the society. The CC believes that the two holidays should finally become celebrations for all Latvian residents. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

• Study Latvian Non-citizens and Voting Rights: Compromises and Resolutions
• President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers criticizes statement made by the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs regarding occupation of Latvia

According to a study “Latvian Non-citizens and Voting Rights: Compromises and Resolutions” held by the political centre “Euro-Civitas”, 60% of non-citizens would be ready to vote not for so-called Russian speaking parties such as the Concord Centre and the For Human Rights in United Latvia but for various parties if granted voting rights. 46% of Latvian residents positively evaluate granting voting rights to non-citizens in municipal election, while, 20% evaluate it neutrally. Those who do not support granting voting rights to non-citizens consider that it would hinder naturalisation process or believe that non-citizens are disloyal towards Latvia or fear that Russians will gain authority in the country. Authors of the study believe that attraction of new voters would be a positive factor for development of Latvian politics and community as a whole.

According to a study Latvian Non-citizens and Voting Rights: Compromises and Resolutions held by the political centre Euro-Civitas, 60% of non-citizens would be ready to vote not for so-called Russian speaking parties such as the Concord Centre and the For Human Rights in United Latvia but for various parties if granted voting rights. 46% of Latvian residents positively evaluate granting voting rights to non-citizens in municipal election, while, 20% evaluate it neutrally. Those who do not support granting voting rights to non-citizens consider that it would hinder naturalisation process or believe that non-citizens are disloyal towards Latvia or fear that Russians will gain authority in the country. Authors of the study believe that attraction of new voters would be a positive factor for development of Latvian politics and community as a whole. Telegraf

The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers criticizes statement made by the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs regarding occupation of Latvia. As reported, after the visit to Museum of Occupation, the Mayor stated that Latvia was incorporated into the Soviet Union in anti democratic way in 1940 but only historians should evaluate whether it was occupation. The President states that there is nothing to discuss because occupation is a fact known to every Latvian family and recognised in writing by 29 countries.

The President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers criticizes statement made by the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs regarding occupation of Latvia. As reported, after the visit to Museum of Occupation, the Mayor stated that Latvia was incorporated into the Soviet Union in anti democratic way in 1940 but only historians should evaluate whether it was occupation. The President states that there is nothing to discuss because occupation is a fact known to every Latvian family and recognised in writing by 29 countries. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

• Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs visited the Museum of Occupation in Riga
• Riga Regional Court sentenced a man to one year of suspended imprisonment for incitement of ethnic hatred
• Number of non-citizens applying for the status of the EU permanent resident permit noticeably increased
• Saeimas Committee on Education, Science and Culture refused proposal stipulating obligation of state and municipalities to ensure education in languages of ethnic minorities if there is sufficient demand for it
• 143 persons received Latvian citizenship
• Academician Feliciana Rajevska: formation of Latvian political nation would be more successful if non-citizens were granted voting rights in municipal elections

Yesterday, the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs visited the Museum of Occupation in Riga. Replying to a question whether he agrees that Latvia was occupied by the USSR, Mr. Usakovs replied that Latvia was incorporated into the Soviet Union in anti democratic way in 1940 but only historians should evaluate whether it was occupation. The Mayor also stated that evil deed made by Joseph Stalin in Latvia cannot be forgiven but it is wrong to blame Soviet veterans for those crimes.

Yesterday, the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs visited the Museum of Occupation in Riga. Replying to a question whether he agrees that Latvia was occupied by the USSR, Mr. Usakovs replied that Latvia was incorporated into the Soviet Union in anti democratic way in 1940 but only historians should evaluate whether it was occupation. The Mayor also stated that evil deed made by Joseph Stalin in Latvia cannot be forgiven but it is wrong to blame Soviet veterans for those crimes. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, NRA

The Riga Regional Court sentenced a 25-year-old man to one year of suspended imprisonment for comments hostile towards ethnic Russian residents of Latvia published on the Internet.

The Riga Regional Court sentenced a 25-year-old man to one year of suspended imprisonment for comments hostile towards ethnic Russian residents of Latvia published on the Internet. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Telegraf reports that number of non-citizens applying for the status of the EU permanent resident permit noticeably increased during this year. According to a representative of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, there were only 17 persons who applied for the status in 2007, while, already 159 persons applied for the status in 2009. According to the newspaper, non-citizens became more active in receiving the status in order to have better opportunities of resettling in other EU countries.

The Saeima’s Committee on Education, Science and Culture refused proposal of the MP Igors Pimenovs (Concord Centre) stipulating obligation of state and municipalities to ensure education in languages of ethnic minorities if there is sufficient demand for it. Majority of the Committee’s members considered that there are no problems in this field in Latvia.

The Saeimas Committee on Education, Science and Culture refused proposal of the MP Igors Pimenovs (Concord Centre) stipulating obligation of state and municipalities to ensure education in languages of ethnic minorities if there is sufficient demand for it. Majority of the Committees members considered that there are no problems in this field in Latvia. Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday, the government accepted list of 143 new Latvian citizens who successfully went trough naturalisation process.

Yesterday, the government accepted list of 143 new Latvian citizens who successfully went trough naturalisation process. Vesti Segodnya

Prominant Latvian academician Feliciana Rajevska in an interview with

Prominant Latvian academician Feliciana Rajevska in an interview with Vesti Segodnya stated that formation of Latvian political nation would be more successful if non-citizens were granted voting rights in municipal elections. The fact that non-citizens are excluded from this process weakens municipalities and their connection with residents and separates authorities from the nation.