• President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers will hold a meeting with Latvian veterans of anti-Hitler coalition

Vesti Segodnya reports the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers will hold a meeting with veterans who served in Latvian rifle corps during the WWII. The newspaper notes that Valdis Zatlers is the first of Latvian presidents since 1991 who will hold official meeting with Latvian warriors of anti-Hitler coalition.

• Latvian language for Members of Local Governments
• Three right wing parties are planning consolidation for the next years parliamentary elections

Diena reports that yesterday the Saeimas Public Administration and Local Government Committee decided to reject the proposal of the Fatherland and Freedom / LNIM to amend legislation and entitle the Saeima to annul the mandate of those members of local governments who are not sufficiently proficient in Latvian language. The Committee decided that a different solution should be found at its next meeting, because legislation does not foresee specific level of the state language knowledge for members of local governments. In the meantime, the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Governments Affairs received complains the some members of local governments in Riga, Rezekne, Daugavpils and Liepaja have insufficient knowledge of the Latvian language.

Newspapers report that the New Era, Civic Union and the Society for Other Politics are negotiating consolidation with the purpose of forming a new right wing political union for the next year’s parliamentary election. Proponents of the unification are claiming that together they will stand against “the rising influence of the Russian speaking parties”. Leader of the New Era Ms. Solvita Aboltina stated that the new union is “not going to propagate nationalism. We are going to stay with national politics based on the state language, the Satversme (Constitution) and democracy”.

Newspapers report that the New Era, Civic Union and the Society for Other Politics are negotiating consolidation with the purpose of forming a new right wing political union for the next years parliamentary election. Proponents of the unification are claiming that together they will stand against the rising influence of the Russian speaking parties. Leader of the New Era Ms. Solvita Aboltina stated that the new union is not going to propagate nationalism. We are going to stay with national politics based on the state language, the Satversme (Constitution) and democracy. Telegraf, Chas, Neatkariga, Latvijas Avize

• Ombudsman Romans Apsitis considers leaving the post
• Activists of anti-fascist NGOs from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland and Poland held gathering in Latvia
• Minister of Defence Imants Legis calls to the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs to recall statement that the Ministry of Defence pays benefits to Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires

Newspapers report that the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis might leave the post after finishing reforms in the Ombudsman Office. Yesterday, Mr. Apsitis stated that he understands that there are tensions and contradictions between generations of employees working in the Office. According to Mr. Apsitis, the time when he will not be able to fulfil the duties will come soon.

Newspapers report that the Ombudsman Romans Apsitis might leave the post after finishing reforms in the Ombudsman Office. Yesterday, Mr. Apsitis stated that he understands that there are tensions and contradictions between generations of employees working in the Office. According to Mr. Apsitis, the time when he will not be able to fulfil the duties will come soon. Chas, NRA

Chas reports that activists of anti-fascist NGOs from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland and Poland held gathering in Latvia. According to the head of Latvian Anti-fascist Committee Josifs Korens, the participants shared information regarding racism, neo-Nazism and Xenophobia in their countries and agreed to establish international organisation.

The Minister of Defence Imants Legis sent a letter to the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs calling him to recall statement to Russia’s newspaper that the Ministry of Defence pays benefits to Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. Mr. Legis pointed that the Ministry pays benefits to participants of national resistance movement who fought against military forces and administration of occupation regimes.

The Minister of Defence Imants Legis sent a letter to the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs calling him to recall statement to Russias newspaper that the Ministry of Defence pays benefits to Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. Mr. Legis pointed that the Ministry pays benefits to participants of national resistance movement who fought against military forces and administration of occupation regimes. Chas, Latvijas Avize

• Columnist of Latvijas Avize: funding for state language proficiency examinations should be increased

Columnist of

Columnist of Latvijas Avize considers that in order to shorten waiting list of persons required to take state language proficiency examinations, the government should allocate more funding to the Centre for Curriculum Development and Examination (ISEC in its Latvian acronym) which organises examinations. The columnist believes that the extra funding could be allocated from fees paid by examinees. As reported, the ISEC is unable to process all examination applications due to large number of applicants who are forced to go through language attestation because of new requirements for language proficiency level for certain posts and professions.

• Vesti Segodnya prints an article about radical nationalists using Latvian social network
• Symbol of swastika spotted in a field near Riga

Vesti Segodnya prints an article about radical nationalists using one of the largest Latvian social networks www.draugiem.lv According to the article, there is a number of users who call themselves with Nazi nicknames and establish closed discussion groups about such issues as Nazi Army, Adolf Hitler, Latvian Waffen SS legion, National Socialism.

Vesti Segodnya reports that a symbol of swastika was spotted in a field in a village near Riga. The swastika was noticed by a photographer from a plane. The swastika is 16x16 metres in size and is formed of fresh grown green grass which contrasts against withered grass. Residents of the village do not know who made the symbol of swastika on the field.