A discussion devoted to historic language referendum 10 years ago, which confirmed Latvian language as the sole official language in Latvia, will take place on 11 February, at the Riga Castle, from 12:00 to 13:30. Speakers taking part in the hybrid discussion ‘Turning point: 10 years since language referendum’ include President of Latvia Egils Levits and various legal experts and politicians.
On 18 February 2012, as required by the constitution of Latvia (Satversme), majority of Latvian citizen voted AGAINST changes in Satversme, which proposed to designate Russian language as the second official language in Latvia. Symbolically, this was a clear vote FOR Latvia as a nation state, and thus marked a turning point in the political and legal thinking, prompting a clear answer to the question of how we, Latvia, define our identity as a nation state.
Two panel sessions of the discussion ‘Turning point: 10 years since language referendum’, with distinguished panellists such as the judge of the European Court of Justice Ineta Ziemele, President of the Constitutional Court Sanita Osipova, Chair of the Department of Administrative Cases of the Supreme Court Veronika Krūmiņa, members of the Saeima Janīna Kursīte-Pakule and Kārlis Šadurskis, and member of the European Parliament Ivars Ijabs, will attempt to give an answer to how Latvian language solidified the identity of Latvia as a nation state.
Discussion will be livestreamed on LSM.lv portal, webpage of the Presidential Chancery www.president.lv and President’s social media pages.
Discussion ‘Turning point: 10 years since language referendum’ is organised by Chancer of the President of Latvia.
Foto: momenti.lv