Language movement grows

RIGA - During a campaign organized by the union ‘Protect Language and Latvia’ and the nationalist political association All For Latvia-For Fatherland And Freedom/LNNK more than a year ago, 10,000 signatures have been gathered under a petition demanding that the Constitution’s Article 112 be amended, so that all state-funded schools only hold classes in the state language, said All For Latvia co-Chairman and Saeima member Imants Paradnieks, reports news agency LETA. Now all the necessary paperwork will be drawn up in two weeks and the signatures will be double-checked, so that they could then be submitted to the Central Election Commission.

After the Election Commission checks the signatures, and if there are more than 10,000 valid signatures, a nationwide signature drive will be organized so the bill could then be submitted to Saeima. If the parliament turns the bill down, a referendum will have to be organized.

The petition suggests that all state and municipal educational establishments offer classes only in the state language from Sept. 1 next year. The organizers of the campaign believe that this must be done for three reasons: to help preserve the Latvian language, ensure that all graduates and state and municipal officials speak the language, maintain Latvian values.
The Constitution’s Article 112 currently says: “Everyone has the right to education. The State shall ensure that everyone may acquire primary and secondary education without charge. Primary education shall be compulsory.”