• Newspapers report election results

Political party „Concord centre” won the elections to the Riga City Council (34,40%). It also took second place in the European Parliament election (19,54%), provisionally securing two MEP seats. Meanwhile, the Concord centre have other, smaller and greater victories in municipalities across all Latvia. Political union „Latvian First party/ Latvian Way”, which also addressed ethnic minority voters in Latvia during election campaign, has also significant number of seats in different municipalities and one MEP seat. Political party „Civic Union” has achieved victory in the European Parliament elections (24,32%), securing two MEP seats, and gained second place in the Riga City (18,82%). Political party “New Era” came fourth in the Riga City Council elections (11,04%) and also secured one seat in the European Parliament. Political party „For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM” and „For Human Rights in United Latvia” gained one seat each in the European Parliament but no seats in the Riga City Council.

Political party „Concord centre won the elections to the Riga City Council (34,40%). It also took second place in the European Parliament election (19,54%), provisionally securing two MEP seats. Meanwhile, the Concord centre have other, smaller and greater victories in municipalities across all Latvia. Political union „Latvian First party/ Latvian Way, which also addressed ethnic minority voters in Latvia during election campaign, has also significant number of seats in different municipalities and one MEP seat. Political party „Civic Union has achieved victory in the European Parliament elections (24,32%), securing two MEP seats, and gained second place in the Riga City (18,82%). Political party New Era came fourth in the Riga City Council elections (11,04%) and also secured one seat in the European Parliament. Political party „For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM and „For Human Rights in United Latvia gained one seat each in the European Parliament but no seats in the Riga City Council. Chas, Vesty Segodnya, Telegraf, Neatkariga, Diena, Latvijas Avize

• Reasons to vote

On the election day,

On the election day, Vesty Segodnya published an article stating the reasons to vote. One of the reasons is that there are many people in Latvia without the right to vote, and therefore those who are entitled should use their right for the sake of those who do not have this right.

• Jose Heavier Mansur – Garcia receives Latvian citizenship due to special contribution to Latvia
• Decision on the Centre of State Language of Riga City Council
• Situation of the citizens of Russian Federation in Latvia

Yesterday, The Saeima adopted decision to honour with Latvian citizenship Mr. Jose Heavier Mansur – Garcia due to his special contribution to Latvia. Mr. Mansur – Garcia was working as a chef in several Mexican restaurants in Latvia since 1992. He also made great contribution to the Latvian and Mexican relations as well as introduced Mexican culture to the Latvian society. Mr. Mansur-Garcia can also keep his Mexican citizenship.

Yesterday, The Saeima adopted decision to honour with Latvian citizenship Mr. Jose Heavier Mansur – Garcia due to his special contribution to Latvia. Mr. Mansur – Garcia was working as a chef in several Mexican restaurants in Latvia since 1992. He also made great contribution to the Latvian and Mexican relations as well as introduced Mexican culture to the Latvian society. Mr. Mansur-Garcia can also keep his Mexican citizenship. Telegraf

Yesterday, Riga City Council decided to keep the Centre of State Language of Riga City Council.  Previously some members of the Riga City Council suggested to liquidate this institution.

Yesterday, Riga City Council decided to keep the Centre of State Language of Riga City Council. Previously some members of the Riga City Council suggested to liquidate this institution. Chas, Latvijas Avize

Conference of the Russian citizens in Latvia recently took place in Riga. Chair of the Latvian-Russian cooperation association Mr. Boris Katkov claims that the right to vote in municipal elections has to be granted to those citizens of Russia who live permanently in Latvia as it is already the case in Lithuania and Estonia. He also claims that citizens of Russia permanently living in Latvia are as much foreigners to Latvia as they are to their native country. Passports are another difficult issue, because citizens of Russia have to change their passports every five years.

Conference of the Russian citizens in Latvia recently took place in Riga. Chair of the Latvian-Russian cooperation association Mr. Boris Katkov claims that the right to vote in municipal elections has to be granted to those citizens of Russia who live permanently in Latvia as it is already the case in Lithuania and Estonia. He also claims that citizens of Russia permanently living in Latvia are as much foreigners to Latvia as they are to their native country. Passports are another difficult issue, because citizens of Russia have to change their passports every five years. Chas.

• Latgalian Radio will probably cease transmissions

Diena reports that Latgalian Radio will probably cease its transmissions after 5 June 2009 due to financial problems and disagreements within its management. Latgalian Radio is the only Latgalian radio station in Latvia.

• Latvijas Avize criticises Amnesty International Report 2009

Latvijas Avize criticizes Amnesty International Report 2009, calling it biased and claiming the authors of the report did not take into account the Latvias historic situation. Latvijas Avize is also concerned that as references for the report Amnesty uses two other so called biased reports by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) and the UN Special Rapporteur on Racism. Latvijas Avize is concerned that Amnesty report has many mistakes concerning the situation of non-citizens. President of Latvia Mr. Valdis Zatlers asked Ombudsman Mr. Romans Apsitis to give an official opinion about the Amnestys criticism on Latvia.