• Most popular parties in February: Concord Centre, Unity, Union of Greens and Farmers

According to a survey conducted by “Latvijas fakti” in February, the Concord Centre is the most popular party – it is supported by 26% of respondents. The Unity is supported by 14,3%, the Union of Greens and Farmers by 9,3% and the nationalists’ union All for Latvia- FF/LNIM by 8,7%. Other parties are supported by less than 5% of respondents. Vesti Segodnya

• Saeima refused the draft law stipulating the procedures for becoming ethnic Latvian
• Sestdiena prints an interview with a Spanish citizen living in Latvia for seven years

Yesterday, the Saeima refused a draft law stipulating the procedures whereby a non-ethnic Latvian can officially change his/her ethnic belonging for ethnic Latvian. As reported, the draft law provided that applicants for Latvian ethnic identity would have to meet four criteria: to be a Latvian citizen; to be a permanent resident of Latvia for at least 15 last years; to be proficient in Latvian language at the highest level; to have feeling of belonging to Latvian culture. One of the authors of the draft law MP Andrejs Judins (Unity) argued that ethnic belonging is not only origin, but also a personal sense of belonging to some culture. In its turn, MP Boriss Cilevics (Concord Centre) criticized the proposal; he argued that the state should decrease the role of formal record on ethnic belonging with the aim to ensuring real equality of all Latvian citizens.  Latvijas Avize. Vesti Segodnya, Diena

In the framework of series of articles on immigrants in Latvia, weekly magazine Sestdiena prints an interview with a Spanish Javier living in Latvia for seven years. Javier has a family in Latvia, teaches Spanish language to students and has established the Spanish Culture Centre.  Javier is proficient in Latvian language and reads Latvian literature in Latvian. Javier believes that he would easily pass naturalisation exams, but feels comfortable living in Latvia with Spanish citizenship.

• The rate of naturalisation process is only 1% per year
• Senate of the Supreme Court sent an addition to its appeal to the Constitutional Court on evaluation of a case on referendum on non-citizens
• Society Consolidation Committee plans to come with an appeal to the society asking to be tolerant about 16 March and 9 May events

According to the Saeima Society Consolidation Committee, the rate of naturalisation process is only 1% per year. The biggest number of persons who received Latvian citizenship trough naturalisation 19,169 was in 2005, while in 2011 there were only 2,467 naturalised citizens. In total, 280,584 non-citizens reside in Latvia at present. Head of the Naturalisation Board Igors Gorbunovs believes the low naturalisation rate is impacted by the political context – referendum on the status of Russian language, establishment of the Congress of Non-citizens, and Russia’s call to non-citizens to accept Russian citizenship. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Senate of the Supreme Court sent an addition to its appeal to the Constitutional Court on evaluation of a case on referendum on non-citizens. In the additional appeal, the Senate asks the Constitutional Court to acknowledge that the articles of the Law on National Referendums which stipulate that the Central Elections Committee (CEC) evaluates the draft laws proposed for the referendum do not comply with the Constitution. As reported, in November 2012, the CEC refused to conduct state funded collection of signatures in support of referendum on granting Latvian citizenship to non-citizens despite the fact that the required number of signatures of Latvian citizens was collected. The initiators of the referendum appealed the decision in the Senate of the Supreme Court arguing the CEC exceeded its authority. The Senate suspended proceedings on the case and asked the Constitutional Court to evaluate it.

The Saeima Society Consolidation Committee plans to come with an appeal to the society asking to be tolerant about 16 March (unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires) and 9 May (the Day of Victory over Nazism celebrated in many republics of the former Soviet Union) events. The appeal is mainly to be addressed to the politicians, mass media, organisers of the events, municipalities, and NGOs. The appeal would call the observers of the events not to bother persons who want to commemorate veterans of the WWII no matter on which side their fought. The society would be asked not to use Nazi and Soviet symbols and not to offend persons with different opinion. The politicians would be asked not to use the events for political agitation. The mass media would be asked to reflect the events in a balanced way and ignore expressions of radicalism. The municipalities would be asked not to put obstacles for the events and to control the situation, preventing provocative actions and conflicts.

• MP Raivis Dzintars: 16 March should be granted status of official commemoration day again, while 9 May should become the day of mourning

According to the leader of the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM, MP Raivis Dzintars, 16 March (unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires) should be granted the status of official commemoration day again, while 9 May (the Day of Victory over Nazism celebrated in many republics of the former Soviet Union) should become the day of mourning in Latvia and the nationalists’ union is planning to submit corresponding proposals to the Saeima. Mr Dzintars believes that for every normal ethnic Latvian 9 May symbolizes restoration of occupation and strongly traumatizes ethnic Latvians so they cannot feel as owners in this country. Mr Dzintars believes that every year, 9 May reminds that Latvia is still endangered and there are threats of Russification and huge number of the state’s enemies still resides here and they will betray Latvia at the first opportunity. Neatkariga

• Vesti Segodnya reports about collection of signatures for two petitions – for and against the demolition of the Monument for Soviet Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders

Vesti Segodnya reports about collection of signatures under the two petitions with contrary content. One of the petitions is for the demolition of the Monument for Soviet Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders, the second petition collects signatures for preservation of the Monument as it is a memory of the WWII veterans. Up to 25 February, the petition for demolition of the Monument collected 3,200 signatures, the other petition 3,376 signatures.