2012 Latvian constitutional referendum

A constitutional referendum on the "Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia" will be held on 18 February 2012 Proposed amendments include Articles 4, 18, 21, 101 and 104 of the Latvian Constitution by adding the condition about Russian as the second official language, as well as prescribing two working languages — Latvian and Russian for self-government institutions. The referendum's question will be "Do you support the adoption of the Draft Law "Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia" that provides for the Russian language the status of the second official language?".

The referendum petition was organised by the organisation "Mother Tongue" (Родной Язык) led by activist Vladimir Linderman (of the Russian National Bolshevik Party), , Yevgeny Osipov and Aleksandrs Gaponenko.

The National Referendum is to be held since the Saeima has rejected the Draft law "Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia" supported by more than one-tenth of the voters during the Collection of signatures. At least half of the whole electorate has to vote Yes in the referendum in order for it to be valid (771,893).

According to the 2000 census, Russian is the native language for 37.5% and the second language for 43.7% of the residents. Since 2000, Russian is regarded as a foreign language according to the Official Language Law.

Background

In 2010, the National Alliance started to collect signatures to force a referendum on whether all publicly financed schools should have to use Latvian exclusively. Until 9 June 2011 they gathered only 120,433 signatures of minimum 153,232 signatures required, failing to force a referendum.

Protesting against National Alliance controversy initiative the youth movement United Latvia (Chairman of the Board – Eduars Svatkovs) 15 February 2011 announced idea on making Russian an official language alongside Latvian. At 4 March 2011 youth movement United Latvia together with newly created society "Native Language" managed by Vladimir Linderman, Yevgeny Osipov and Aleksandrs Gaponenko started to collect signatures. They gathered 187,378 signatures, successfully forcing a referendum.

The referendum initiators mentioned possible assimilation of minority children as main reason to protest. One of the goals of this protest action was to slow down ongoing process of National Alliance signature collecting. In manifest of reply referendum initiators was written: "In such case there is no any other defense method as attack. Hysteria initiator should be shaken strongly to stop hysteria."

Big part of Russian speaking community in Latvia (most of 319,267 or 14.35% of population) could not vote on this referendum because since 1991 they have got non-citizen status and thus have no political rights.

Mayor of Riga Nils Ušakovs is supportive of the referendum after initially refraing from supporting it, while president Andris Bērziņš initially stated he would abstain before calling for a "no" vote. Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis is also calling for a "no".

Proposed constitutional changes

	Current Constitution of Latvia	Proposed Constitution of Latvia
Article 4	Official language in the Republic of Latvia is Latvian language. Flag of Latvia is red with a white stripe.	Official languages in the Republic of Latvia are Latvian and Russian languages. Flag of Latvia is red with a white stripe.
Article 18	Saeima itself shall examine the mandates of its members. The elected person receives his mandate, when during a Saeima sitting he delivers a solemn promise: "I, undertaking the duties of a member of Saeima, in front of the Latvian people swear (solemny promise) to be loyal to Latvia, while strengthening its sovereignty and Latvian language as the only official language of the state, defend Latvia as an independent and democratic state, fulfill my responsibilities fairly and under full consciousness. I promise to abide by the Constitution as well as the legislation of Latvia."	Saeima itself shall examine the mandates of its members. The elected person receives his mandate, when during a Saeima sitting he delivers a solemn promise: "I, undertaking the duties of a member of Saeima, in front of the Latvian people swear (solemny promise) to be loyal to Latvia, while strengthening its sovereignty and Latvian as well as Russian languages as the only official languages of the state, defend Latvia as an independent and democratic state, fulfill my responsibilities fairly and under full consciousness. I promise to abide by the Constitution as well as the legislation of Latvia."
Article 21	Saeima shall draw up the rules of procedure for the regulation of its internal proceedings and order. The working language of Saeima is Latvian language.	Saeima shall draw up the rules of procedure for the regulation of its internal proceedings and order.
Article 101	Every citizen of Latvia has the right, in the manner prescribed by law, to participate in the activity of the state and local governments as well as to perform state service. Local governments are elected by the citizens of Latvia and the European Union, which resides in Latvia. Each citizen of the European Union, which constantly resides in Latvia, has the rights, in the manner prescribes by law, to participates in the activity of the local governments. The working language of local governments is Latvian language.	Every citizen of Latvia has the right, in the manner prescribed by law, to participate in the activity of the state and local governments as well as to perform state service. Local governments are elected by the citizens of Latvia and the European Union, which resides in Latvia. Each citizen of the European Union, which constantly resides in Latvia, has the rights, in the manner prescribes by law, to participates in the activity of the local governments. The working languages of local governments are Latvian and Russian languages.
Article 104	Everyone has the right, in the manner prescribes by law, to turn to the state and local government institutions with applications and to receive an answer in point of fact. Everyone has the right to receive answer in Latvian language.	Everyone has the right, in the manner prescribes by law, to turn to the state and local government institutions with applications and to receive an answer in point of fact. Everyone has the right to receive answer in Latvian and Russian languages.

Polling stations abroad

A total of 85 polling stations in 41 countries — the greatest number ever — will be open outside Latvia. Besides the stations in all Embassies and many Consulates General and Honorary Consulates of Latvia, polling stations will operate at the Latvian Houses in Australia, in the Daugavas Vanagi House in London and in the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Churches in United States. New polling stations will operate in Austria, Chile, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland, Venezuela, and in the cities of Boston and Manchester, as well as the island of Guernsey, all in the United Kingdom.

See also

• Language policy in Latvia
• History of Russians in Latvia
• Baltic Russians