Integration monitor is a daily Latvian press digest on ethnic minority and society integration issues. The Monitor reviews the biggest Latvian dailies: Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga (in Latvian language), Vesti Segodnya (in Russian language). In specific cases other information sources are used. Latvian Centre for Human Rights is not responsible for information published by the media.

Press Report

Press Report

If FF/LNNK agrees to work in coalition with Social Democrats without People’s Party and Latvia’s Way in Riga City Council, it would result in the fall of government say some political scientists. Today Social Democrats will announce their candidate for the post of Mayor. “We are not satisfied with the current Government and the results of election show people’s opinion about Latvia’s Way and People’s Party, however, our goal is not to overthrow the Government”, said social democrat

If FF/LNNK agrees to work in coalition with Social Democrats without Peoples Party and Latvias Way in Riga City Council, it would result in the fall of government say some political scientists. Today Social Democrats will announce their candidate for the post of Mayor. We are not satisfied with the current Government and the results of election show peoples opinion about Latvias Way and Peoples Party, however, our goal is not to overthrow the Government, said social democrat

G.Bojars. He did not deny the possibility to form a coalition with FHRUL if the attempts to form coalition with FF/LNNK fail. Social Democrats are willing to co-operate with the union “Centrs” which is formed of the Latvian Democratic Party (LDP), the Latvian Farmers' Union (LFU), the Russian Party (RP) and Labour Party (LP) and which all together have 5 mandates at Riga City Council. FF/LNNK leader M.Grinblats said that it is almost sure that FF/LNNK will not agree to the proposal of Social Democrats to form a coalition without LW and People’s Party.

G.Bojars. He did not deny the possibility to form a coalition with FHRUL if the attempts to form coalition with FF/LNNK fail. Social Democrats are willing to co-operate with the union Centrs which is formed of the Latvian Democratic Party (LDP), the Latvian Farmers' Union (LFU), the Russian Party (RP) and Labour Party (LP) and which all together have 5 mandates at Riga City Council. FF/LNNK leader M.Grinblats said that it is almost sure that FF/LNNK will not agree to the proposal of Social Democrats to form a coalition without LW and Peoples Party. Diena, Jauna, Chas

As of the next month the new head of President’s Chancellery will be prosecutor A.Zakis who previously took the post of international co-operation division prosecutor at Prosecutor General's Office. No announcement of the job opening was made as the President personally made the choice. A.Zakis has been working for General Prosecutor Office since the beginning of his career and

As of the next month the new head of Presidents Chancellery will be prosecutor A.Zakis who previously took the post of international co-operation division prosecutor at Prosecutor General's Office. No announcement of the job opening was made as the President personally made the choice. A.Zakis has been working for General Prosecutor Office since the beginning of his career and Diena informs that in the 80-ies he was in charge of national dissident cases. He was a prosecutor also in Kalejs (war crime suspect) case. Diena, Jauna, Neatkariga, Latvijas Vestnesis, Chas, Vesti Segodnja, Panorama Latvii

Last three months the total number of the residents in Latvia who would vote for joining the EU if the referendum takes place now has dropped. The social poll was carried out by Market and Public Opinion Research Centre on the request of European Integration Bureau. In February 41,4% of the inquired persons would vote for Latvia’s membership in the EU, 32,7% would vote against and 26% (it is 5.5% more than the last month) were not certain about their position. Diena, Neatkariga, Chas, Respublika

Last three months the total number of the residents in Latvia who would vote for joining the EU if the referendum takes place now has dropped. The social poll was carried out by Market and Public Opinion Research Centre on the request of European Integration Bureau. In February 41,4% of the inquired persons would vote for Latvias membership in the EU, 32,7% would vote against and 26% (it is 5.5% more than the last month) were not certain about their position. Diena, Neatkariga, Chas, Respublika

The parties spend almost the same amount of money for municipal election promotion campaigns as for previous Saeima election, but one deputy mandate at Riga City Council “costs” twice as much as a seat in Saeima. The cost of the seat in Riga Council varies from LVL 500 to 60 000 – for Latvia’s Way it is LVL 62 000, People’s Party – 55 000, FF/LNNK – 19 090, Social Democrats – 7142, FHRUL – 1200, Christian Democratic Party – 500.

The parties spend almost the same amount of money for municipal election promotion campaigns as for previous Saeima election, but one deputy mandate at Riga City Council costs twice as much as a seat in Saeima. The cost of the seat in Riga Council varies from LVL 500 to 60 000 – for Latvias Way it is LVL 62 000, Peoples Party – 55 000, FF/LNNK – 19 090, Social Democrats – 7142, FHRUL – 1200, Christian Democratic Party – 500. Diena, Neatkariga, Vesti Segodnja

President V.Vike-Freiberga together with the minister of Environment Protection and Regional Development and Agriculture are on three-day official visit to Lithuania.

President V.Vike-Freiberga together with the minister of Environment Protection and Regional Development and Agriculture are on three-day official visit to Lithuania. Diena, Latvijas Vestnesis, Chas

The possible candidates of Social Democrats to Riga Mayor post are G.Bojars and the current Social Democrats faction leader in Riga Council J.Gulbis. Some Social Democrats have expressed their dissatisfaction with “family business” in the party (J.Bojars is Social Democrat Party chairman and his son G.Bojars is the candidate of Social Democrats to the post of Riga Mayor).

The possible candidates of Social Democrats to Riga Mayor post are G.Bojars and the current Social Democrats faction leader in Riga Council J.Gulbis. Some Social Democrats have expressed their dissatisfaction with family business in the party (J.Bojars is Social Democrat Party chairman and his son G.Bojars is the candidate of Social Democrats to the post of Riga Mayor). Neatkariga

Danish weekly newspaper

Danish weekly newspaper Weekendavisen writes that the Baltic countries are a test for NATO – it will show how far NATO is ready to go in confrontation with Russia. It is stressed that after some years of silence the issue about the acceptance of the Baltic States to NATO is again on the agenda. Neatkariga

Vesti Segodnja

gives its opinion on the development of the situation in Riga City Council. Social Democrats could agree to form coalition with the three ruling parties only on the conditions that they get involved in the big government and privatisation of large enterprises and the post of Riga mayor is taken by a social democrat, however, even all above mentioned gains could be too small compensation because if Social Democrats agree on this coalition they would lose at next Saeima election for sure. If Social Democrats form a coalition with FHRUL they would have to stand against a firm confrontation from the side of the Government. The newspaper sees that FHRUL is in the most favourable situation and informs that non-official consultations between Social Democrats and FHRUL have been launched yesterday. gives its opinion on the development of the situation in Riga City Council. Social Democrats could agree to form coalition with the three ruling parties only on the conditions that they get involved in the “big government and privatisation of large enterprises” and the post of Riga mayor is taken by a social democrat, however, even all above mentioned gains could be too small compensation because if Social Democrats agree on this coalition they would lose at next Saeima election for sure. If Social Democrats form a coalition with FHRUL they would have to stand against a firm confrontation from the side of the Government. The newspaper sees that FHRUL is in the most favourable situation and informs that non-official consultations between Social Democrats and FHRUL have been launched yesterday. Social Democrats faction in Saeima leader E.Baldzens said to

Social Democrats faction in Saeima leader E.Baldzens said to Vesti Segodnja that they do not exclude the possibility to form the government if it falls. As well as he confirmed that Social Democrats will co-operate with FHRUL, the question is just what kind of co-operation it will be.