Language wars build momentum

RIGA -  History shows that everything is possible in Latvia, even conducting two referendums in one day, the Central Election Commission (CEC) Chief Arnis Cimdars said in an interview on the LNT morning program ‘900 sekundes’ on April 11, reports news agency LETA. 10,192 residents have signed the All for Latvia-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK petition demanding that the Constitution’s Article 112 be amended. The number of signatures is enough to organize a 30-day nationwide signature drive, so the bill can then be submitted to Saeima. If the bill is turned down, a referendum will have to be organized.
In March, Pro-Russian organizations ‘United Latvia’ and ‘Native Language’ began their campaign. Both organizations plan to collect 10,000 signatures by May 9 (a deliberately provocative date), demanding that the Constitution articles 4, 18, 21, 101 and 104 be amended so that Russian would become the second official language in Latvia. So far more than 6,000 signatures have been gathered.

Cimdars emphasized that it is possible to hold both referendums in one day, if necessary; however, this is possible only if the amendments are accepted by Saeima with no changes, and at the same time. The organization of both referendums in one day would cost 3.7 million lats (5.2 million euros); if done separately, it would cost 4 million lats, said Cimdars.
The Constitution’s Article 112 currently says: “Everyone has the right to an education. The State shall ensure that everyone can acquire primary and secondary education without charge. Primary education shall be compulsory.”

The All for Latvia-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK petition calls for all state and municipal educational establishments to only offer classes 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.