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.

Integration and Minority Information Service
of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies

• Saeima will vote on new government today
• Ratings of political parties
• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Prime Minister candidate Indulis Emsis discuss planned activities in the area of education reform
• State Security Police recommends to not issue permission for youth organizations march on legionnaires commemoration day
• Former Deputy Prime Minister of Latvia Ainars Slesers accuses former Minister of Education and Science Karlis Sadurskis of mishandling education reform implementation
• Interview with the Estonian Minister for Population and Ethnic Affairs Paul-Eerik Rummo
• Ventspils mayor assigns responsibility for protest actions against the education reform to former Prime Minister Einars Repse
• Controversial call for special parliament of Russian-speaking people in Baltic States by Estonian academic
• Discussions on education reform by state institutions, Riga municipality and nongovernmental organizations
• Janis Valdmanis recently appointed as director of the State Language Agency

Today Saeima will vote on the new government of Latvia, formed by the representative of the Union of Farmers and Greens Indulis Emsis. The new minority government is constituted on the basis of the coalition of three right wing parties - Union of Farmers and Greens, People’s Party, Latvia’s First Party and so will depend on votes from other parties for their confirmation.

Today Saeima will vote on the new government of Latvia, formed by the representative of the Union of Farmers and Greens Indulis Emsis. The new minority government is constituted on the basis of the coalition of three right wing parties - Union of Farmers and Greens, Peoples Party, Latvias First Party and so will depend on votes from other parties for their confirmation. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Rigas Balss, Vechernaya Riga, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

The latest SKDS opinion poll indicates that the most popular party in Latvia in February was still New Era, which has a support of 22,4% of voters.  However, the party’s popularity has decreased from the previous poll by 1.5%. The rating of the People’s Party has significantly increased, to 16,1%.  Other parties’ ratings are: For Human Rights in United Latvia (10,2%), the Union of Farmers and Greens (8,8%), People’s Harmony Party (5,9%).  Below the 5% barrier for parliamentary representation are the ratings of For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (4,5%) and Latvia’s First Party (3,1%).

The latest SKDS opinion poll indicates that the most popular party in Latvia in February was still New Era, which has a support of 22,4% of voters. However, the partys popularity has decreased from the previous poll by 1.5%. The rating of the Peoples Party has significantly increased, to 16,1%. Other parties ratings are: For Human Rights in United Latvia (10,2%), the Union of Farmers and Greens (8,8%), Peoples Harmony Party (5,9%). Below the 5% barrier for parliamentary representation are the ratings of For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (4,5%) and Latvias First Party (3,1%). Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize

Chas reports on the meeting of the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga and the Prime Minister candidate Indulis Emsis. Among other things, during this meeting the emerging governments planned activities concerning the implementation of the minority education reform were discussed.

State Security Police has recommended to the executive director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks to not grant the right to organize a protest march to the nationalist youth organization “Klubs 415” (“Club 415”) on 16 March, which already in previous years has raised controversy as the commemoration day for the Latvian Legion during WWII. The organization representing former legionnaires has distanced itself from this initiative. Although the reasons for not allowing the march are ostensibly security related, several commentators are more concerned about the negative image this could create for Latvia internationally.

State Security Police has recommended to the executive director of the Riga City Council Maris Tralmaks to not grant the right to organize a protest march to the nationalist youth organization Klubs 415 (Club 415) on 16 March, which already in previous years has raised controversy as the commemoration day for the Latvian Legion during WWII. The organization representing former legionnaires has distanced itself from this initiative. Although the reasons for not allowing the march are ostensibly security related, several commentators are more concerned about the negative image this could create for Latvia internationally. Diena

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with First Party leader and former Deputy Prime Minister of Latvia Ainars Slesers, in which he argues that the former Minister of Education and Science Karlis Shadurskis is to blame for provocations in the area of minority education reform. According to him, the new Minister of Education and Science will have to start from scratch the dialogue with minority students, teachers and nongovernmental organizations. Ainars Slesers also believes that it is possible to achieve a compromise in the area of education reform.

Latvijas Avize interviews the Estonian Minister for Population and Ethnic Affairs Paul-Eerik Rummo about society integration in Estonia and minority education reform in Latvia. Commenting the demands issued recently at of the Congress of the Defenders of Russian language schools, Paul-Eerik Rummo stresses that the response to the demands, which could impact the fundamentals of the state, are the exclusive competence of the state of Latvia and outside interference is inadmissible. He criticizes the activities of some Russian state officials, who were agitaing against Latvia during the anti-reform congress.

The Chairman of Ventspils City Council Aivars Lembergs has stated that the former Prime Minister of Latvia Einars Repse should bear the responsibility for the protest actions against the education reform. Aivars Lembergs does not exclude the possibility that the primary organizer of protest actions was Einars Repse. The Chairman of Ventspils City Council  believes that the unstable situation in the state was advantageous for Einars Repse, especially considering his expressions about the necessity to make amendments to the Constitution of Latvia, which would stipulate the authority to the Prime Minister to convene extraordinary Saeima elections in order to preclude a government crisis.

The Chairman of Ventspils City Council Aivars Lembergs has stated that the former Prime Minister of Latvia Einars Repse should bear the responsibility for the protest actions against the education reform. Aivars Lembergs does not exclude the possibility that the primary organizer of protest actions was Einars Repse. The Chairman of Ventspils City Council believes that the unstable situation in the state was advantageous for Einars Repse, especially considering his expressions about the necessity to make amendments to the Constitution of Latvia, which would stipulate the authority to the Prime Minister to convene extraordinary Saeima elections in order to preclude a government crisis. Vechernaya Riga, Vechernaya Riga, Chas

Russian-language newspapers reprint excerpts of the article of the Estonian academic Hanon Barabaner published in the Russian journal

Russian-language newspapers reprint excerpts of the article of the Estonianacademic Hanon Barabaner published in the Russian journal Ekspert. The author argues that Russian-speaking people in the Baltic States need their own parliament, which could represent the interests of a significant part of the Baltic States population in Europe. Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

A meeting of representatives of state institutions, Riga municipality and nongovernmental organizations took place yesterday, in which the participants discussed the present situation with the education reform.

A meeting of representatives of state institutions, Riga municipality and nongovernmental organizations took place yesterday, in which the participants discussed the present situation with the education reform. Latvijas Avize, Vechernaya Riga, Chas

Latvijas Avize writes about the newly appointed director of the State Language Agency Janis Valdmanis, who believes that the main goals of the agency are the implementation of the society integration on the basis of the state language, strengthening the position of the Latvian language and promoting sustainable development of the Latvian language.