Latvija in brief - 2012-04-19

Most Latvians are ethnocentrically orientated, as they believe the interests of Latvians must be protected more in Latvia, according to a study carried out by SKDS in cooperation with the conservative idea institute Populares Latvija, reports LETA. Out of families who speak Latvian at home, 53 percent agreed with this point of view. In turn, just 22 percent believe that all nationalities living in Latvia should be treated equally. Furthermore, 23 percent said that they are somewhere in between these two points of view, while 2 percent do not have a point of view. Out of families in Latvia who speak Russian at home, 71 percent believe that all nationalities living in Latvia should be treated equally. Only 3 percent believe that the interests of Latvian must be protected more. Twenty percent said that they are somewhere in between these two points of view, while 3 percent do not have a point of view. SKDS surveyed 1,001 residents between the ages of 18 to 74.

About 15.5 percent of Latvian residents identify themselves with a left-wing ideology, but in actuality 55.1 percent have left-wing views, according to a survey carried out by SKDS, reports LETA. 23.1 percent of respondents believe that they have centrist political views; 19.1 percent consider themselves far-right; 17.5 percent say their political views are more rightist than leftist; 11.1 percent rather leftist; 4.4 percent are far-left. Some 24.7 percent cannot identify themselves with any of these ideologies. The respondents were asked 11 different questions that dealt with the left-right spectrum. The survey showed that the actual situation differs significantly from the respondents’ perception of their views. In actuality, 43.6 percent rather have left-wing views; 11.5 percent far-left. 39.5 percent are neither left- nor right-wing. 5.4 percent are rather right-wing. “These percentages are not ‘set in stone’ and could change,” explains SKDS Director Arnis Kaktins.