• Survey data on ethnic factor in voting
• Newspapers report on possible future coalition government 

According to the head of the Market and opinion research agency "Latvijas Fakti" Aigars Freimanis, among the votes cast for the party Concord Centre, around 20% were cast by ethnic Latvian voters. Some Russian voters also cast their votes for parties mainly supported by ethnically Latvian electorate, such as the Nationalist Union (2-3%), Unity (5-9%), Greens and Farmers (10%). Vesti Segodnya 

Newspapers report about the possibilities of forming future coalition government following the parliamentary elections held on 4 October 2014. The present ruling coalition gained majority of the parliamentary seats - 61 out of 100, including Unity (23 seats), the Union of Greens and Farmers (21) the Nationalist Union (17). Therefore, the commentators believe there are very high chances for the present ruling coalition to remain in the newly elected parliament. Janis Urbanovics (Concord Centre) believes that leaving his party out of the ruling coalition again is a form of punishment of the Concord Centre’s voters. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga, Vesti Segodnya

 

• Newspapers report about the results of the parliamentary elections
• Leader of the Russian Union of Latvia Miroslavs Mitrofanovs: we were too radical, open and honest

Newspapers report about the results of the parliamentary elections conducted on 4 October. According to the preliminary results, the political party Concord received 23,13% of votes or 24 mandates, the Unity received 21,76% or 23 mandates, the Union of Greens and Farmers – 19,62% or 21 mandates, the National Union – 16,57% or 17 mandates, the Latvian Regional Union – 6,55% or 8 mandates, and the part From the Heart to Latvia – 6,88% or 7 mandates. The total turnout at the elections was 58,8% (60,55% in the previous elections). 41 MPs are new to the Saeima. Newspapers also note that the voters actively used the possibility to strike off the candidates. As the result, for instance, the present Saeima’s Speaker and the leader of the Unity Solvita Aboltina stayed outside of the list of candidates who received MP mandate. Despite the fact that the Concord has won the biggest number of seats in the elections, most likely it will be left out of the governing coalition again. Vesti Segodnya, Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga

Commenting the failure the party Russian Union of Latvia (which received only 1,58%), its leader Miroslavs Mitrofanovs says that the party was too radical, open and honest comparing to other parties. He believes that, most likely, such qualities do not correspond to the wishes of voters who are ready to accept lies and unrealistic promises. Vesti Segodnya

• Security Police finds no offence in statements about "robbers' gene in Russian mentality" and Russians "created mostly not for work but for robbery" 

The Security Police concluded that the statements of writer and pedagogue Antons Rancans about ethnic Russians are tendentious, but do not constitute criminal offence (corpus delicti). As reported, in an interview with newspaper Neatkariga on 22 August 2014, Mr. Rancans stated that "there is robbers' gene in Russian mentality… mostly, they were created not for work but for robbery." The Security Police concluded that the statements of Mr. Rancans can be seen as tendentious and one-sided, yet these statements do not constitute offence (corpus delicti) envisioned by the Section 78 of the Criminal Law (incitement to ethnic hatred). Vesti Segodnya

• Public rally in support of education in native language and against language inspection took place in Daugavpils 

A public rally took place in Daugavpils (mainly Russian-speaking town in East Latvia). The participants protested against the government plans to further reduce the share of education in native language of instruction in national minority schools. The participants also protested against the fines imposed by the State Language Inspection (SLE) as well as called to abolish SLE as such. The rally was organised by the Russian Union of Latvia. Vesti Segodnya

 

• Candidates discussed the possibility of Russian interference amid allegations of discrimination against Russian minority
• Latvian Human Rights Committee: 83% of population reduction in Latvia represents the reduction of ethnic minorities 

Latvijas Avize organised pre-election discussion in Dagda (town in Latgale not far from Byelorussian border) with candidate MPs. Latvijas Avize started the discussion with references to Paul Gregory (The Forbes) and Edward Lucas (The Economist) who suggested that Russia might interfere in Latvia alleging discrimination of Russian minority. Edvins Snore (nationalists’ union All for Latvia!/FF-LNIM) believes such scenario is possible because of internal insecurity, ethnic composition of population and sentiments. He warned against too friendly relations with Russia, and Latvia shall not allow the broadcasting of Russia’s channels in Latvia, which is incompatible with loyalty towards the state. Vitalijs Aizbalts (Honour to serve Riga!) believes such scenario is impossible, because ethnic Latvians, Latgalians, Russians, Jews, Poles lived and co-existed peacefully in Latgale throughout the centuries, unless the politicians incite hatred, and the best defence is good neighbour relations. Edgars Jaunups (For the development of Latvia!) and Dzintars Zakis believe such scenario is unlikely. The Minister of Defence Raimonds Vejonis (Greens and Farmers Union) stated that such scenario is impossible in Latvia, because people in Latvia are patriotic and the army is ready. The government plans to increase defence spending, train anti-helicopter units and purchase ground-to-air missiles, increase the number of National Guards (voluntary military self-defence, Zemessardze) and provide the same training and equipment as to the regular army, and double the number of Youth Guards (youth of 12 to 18, Jaunsardze). 

Latvian Human Rights Committee (LHRC) published research "Legal and social situation of the Russian-speaking minority in Latvia". 83% of the reduction of population of Latvia since independence represents the reduction of ethnic minorities. While the birth rates and death rates of representatives of ethnic majority and minorities were equal in 1991, by 2012, the death rate among minorities was 31% higher than among ethnic Latvians and the birth rate among minorities was 36% lower than among ethnic Latvians. The majority of stateless persons in the EU are the non-citizens of Latvia and Estonia, while the total population of Latvia and Estonia is less than 1% of the EU population. LHRC points out that the government further curtails the right to choose the language of instruction in minority schools. Vesti Segodnya