In order to strengthen the official language policy, the Saeima adopted amendments to its Rules of Procedure in the third reading on Thursday, 27 February. The amendments require the Cabinet of Ministers to report to the Saeima every two years on the work done and planned to preserve, protect, develop and increase the influence of the official language.

The authors of the amendments note that the official language is one of the most important resources for the development of society and the country. It is the basis of identity for both the nation and the national culture of the country, and therefore the official language is a unifying value for all the people of Latvia.

It is essential for the legislator to have the opportunity to react proactively and remove identified obstacles relating to the official language policy in a timely manner, said Andrejs Judins, Chair of the Legal Affairs Committee which was responsible for the amendments.

In the absence of a motion or request to convene an extraordinary session of the Saeima, the Saeima Presidium will include the Cabinet of Ministers' report on official language policy for consideration at the next regular session of the Saeima, which will be held on Official Language Day, which is celebrated on 15 October.

The annotation to the amendments states that every member of the government and the Saeima has a duty to be involved in and contribute to the development of the official language policy, the monitoring of its implementation and the achievement of results. Official language policy should be treated as responsibly and decisively as any other sectoral policy implemented by the state.

Effective and targeted implementation of the official language policy is only possible if information is regularly gathered on the results already achieved and those still to be achieved, the annotation to the amendments states. It is also noted that the submission of the report to the Saeima will allow the parliament to follow-up with the work done and the planned initiatives for the preservation and development of the official language.

The amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Saeima also reinforce that a Member of the Saeima shall not, in communication with the Latvian public, allow any action that would cast doubt on the importance of the Latvian language.

Saeima Press Service