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

Prime-Minister Skele explained at a press-conference that his sudden resignation was caused by the President and prominent politicians doubting his honesty and commitment to the state interests. Skele told the press that he was accused of forcing Saeima deputies to take immoral decisions and to act against their own principles. The Prime-Minister has officially informed the President and the

Prime-Minister Skele explained at a press-conference that his sudden resignation was caused by the President and prominent politicians doubting his honesty and commitment to the state interests. Skele told the press that he was accused of forcing Saeima deputies to take immoral decisions and to act against their own principles. The Prime-Minister has officially informed the President and the Saeima Speaker of his resignation. The President is to appoint a new candidate for the post. He can also suggest Mr. Skele to form a new Cabinet. The legislation does not set any deadline for the President to suggest candidates for Prime-Minister. Although Mr. Skele said that he tried to contact President Ulmanis through the weekend, the President says that there were no attempts to notify him of the Prime-Minister's resignation. He also criticized Skele for complaining about " lack of support from the President". Skele's resignation took the Cabinet members by surprise as well. Newly elected Minister of Finance Melnik says that he is ready to resign it would help saving the Cabinet. "Saimnieks" leader Cevers believes President Ulmanis to be responsible for the government crisis and says that he has come to understand the reasons for the sudden resignation after having a meeting with Skele on the issue. According to sources in the Saeima, the most likely candidates for Skele's post are Gorbunovs (once held Prime-Minister="s" post) and Mayor of Ventspils Lembergs. Still, politicians and analysts do not exclude the possibility of Skele taking the post again, believing his resignation to be a political trick. Diena, Neatkariga, SM

Boris Tsilevich in an article published by

Boris Tsilevich in an article published by "SM" refers to several international acts to prove that granting the right to vote in self-government elections to foreigners is becoming a general practice in the European countries. Last year "People's Harmony" came up with a suggestion to give non-citizens an "active" right to vote in self-government elections. The suggestion was opposed by the coalition factions. Minister for European Affairs Kirsteins said that only seven European countries grant such a right to aliens. Tsilevich refers to the Maastricht Treaty that grants the right to vote in local elections to all the citizens of the European Union countries residing on the territory of any EU state. Although Latvian political leaders often mention Nordic countries as an example to be followed by Latvia, these counties are the ones providing aliens with more rights than any other country in Europe. Only four (Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Russia) out of the ten Baltic Council countries refuse to grant non-citizens the right to vote in local elections. Commissioner Ole Espersen recommended granting the right to participate in municipal elections to non-citizens permanently residing in these countries. Granting the right to non-citizens has also been recommended by the Council of Europe. Currently, five Russian language newspapers in Latvia are promoting the idea of a referendum, calling upon the Latvian citizens to support the an amendment in Latvia's legislation that would allow non-citizens to vote in self-government elections and to be elected to self-government bodies. SM