Freedom in the World 1998 - Latvia

1998 Scores

Status: Free
Freedom Rating: 1.5
Civil Liberties: 2
Political Rights: 1

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Latvia receives an upward trend arrow due to further liberalization of the country's citizenship law.

Overview

In an October 3 referendum, Latvian voters approved amendments to the country's citizenship law which eased restrictions on naturalization for the country's large noncitizen population. Following concurrent parliamentary elections, the formation of a new government was stalled for almost two months by negotiations in which personal animosities and political feuds outweighed ideological similarities.

After centuries of foreign domination by Germany, Poland, Sweden, and Russia, Latvia gained its independence in 1918. The country was forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union during World War II under the provisions of a secret protocol of the 1939 Hitler-Stalin pact. More than 50 years of Soviet occupation saw a massive influx of Russians and the deportation, execution and emigration of tens of thousands of ethnic Latvians. The proportion of Latvians decreased from 77 percent in 1940 to 52 percent in 1991, the year the country regained its independence in the wake of the USSR's disintegration.

Following the October 1995 parliamentary elections, non-party businessman and former agricultural minister Andris Skele formed a center-right coalition that included Democratic Party Saimnieks, the Latvian Way Union, the Latvian Farmers' Union, and other moderate conservative parties. Subsequently, President Guntis Ulmanis was elected to a second term on June 18, 1996. The year 1997 was marked by continual government instability, with Skele finally turning over the premiership to Guntars Krasts of the nationalist Fatherland and Freedom party in July-August.

On April 8, 1998, Democratic Party Saimnieks (DPS) withdrew from the governing coalition following growing tensions with Krast's Fatherland and Freedom party. With the departure of the DPS, Krasts was left to head a minority government holding only 45 of the legislature's 100 seats.

In the October national legislative elections, six parties secured enough votes to enter parliament. Former Prime Minister Andris Skele's newly created People's Party (PP) won 24 seats; Latvia's Way (LW), 21; Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK (FF/LNNK), 17; the National Harmony Party (NHP), 16; the Alliance of Social Democrats (SDU), 14; and the New Party (NP), 8. After nearly two months of negotiations, parliament finally approved a new minority government on November 26 led by Latvia's Way leader Vilis Kristopans and consisting of the center-right LW, FF/LNNK and NP. The People's Party of Skele, who is widely disliked for his authoritarian and abrasive style, was effectively excluded from the new administration despite its election win and its political similarities with the three coalition parties. With only 46 of 100 seats in parliament, and at best limited cooperation with the SDU, the current government's future stability and effectiveness remains a question.

Russia's economic crisis had a considerable impact on Latvia's economy in late 1998, with the country's significant Russian-oriented trade and banking sectors most strongly affected. In November, Latvia was stung by its exclusion from fast-track membership talks to the European Union, although it may be invited to pre-accession discussions sometime in 1999.

Political Rights and Civil Liberties

Latvians can change their government democratically. However, Latvia's citizenship laws have been criticized for disenfranchising almost one-third of the country's population which immigrated to Latvia during the Soviet period and must apply for citizenship. The constitution provides for a 100-member parliament (Saeima), elected for four-year terms by proportional representation, which in turn selects the country's president. International observers determined that the most recent legislative elections in 1998 were free and fair. More than 40 political parties are officially registered, although Communist, Nazi, and other organizations whose activities would contravene the constitution are banned.

The government respects freedom of the press, and both Latvian and Russian-language newspapers publish a wide range of political viewpoints. There are a large number of private television and radio stations broadcasting programs in Latvian and Russian. Religious tolerance is widespread and freedom of worship is generally respected in practice.

Freedom of assembly and association are protected by law, and numerous public gatherings and demonstrations occurred in 1998 without government interference. However, two events in the spring of 1998 attracted considerable attention in the Russian media and further soured already tense relations between Latvia and Russia. On March 3, police used rubber truncheons to disperse an illegal demonstration of mostly Russian pensioners who were blocking a road in front of the Riga City Council building where they were protesting low living standards. Although no injuries were reported, Moscow responded by accusing Latvia of violating the rights of ethnic Russians and threatening to impose economic sanctions. Two weeks later, a commemorative march of the controversial Latvian Legion, formed by German occupation forces during World War II was denounced by Russia and the international community. The head of the National Armed Forces subsequently resigned over criticism that, contrary to a government warning, he had participated in the event dressed in military uniform.

Workers have the right to form trade unions, strike, and engage in collective bargaining. However, some workers in the private sector fear dismissal if they strike, and the government has a limited ability to protect their rights.

The judicial system is weak and inefficient, and corruption is reportedly widespread. Most judges are not adequately trained, and many judges' posts remain vacant. There have been reports of police using excessive force against prisoners and asylum seekers. While prison facilities remain overcrowded and conditions poor, new construction efforts and foreign assistance have facilitated some recent improvements.

In 1998, the country's Law on Citizenship was amended to ease and accelerate the naturalization process. The amendments eliminated the so-called "naturalization windows," or specific periods during which noncitizens may apply for citizenship. They also offer citizenship to noncitizens' children born after August 21, 1991 (the date of Latvia's independence from the USSR) at their parents' request and without a Latvian language test. Although the amendments passed their first two readings in parliament in May and June, their adoption was postponed when a group of MPs, at the initiative of the Fatherland and Freedom Party, requested that a referendum be held on the issue. On October 3, the electorate ratified the amendments with a slim 52.5 percent of the vote. The result was welcomed by international organizations, including the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Currently, approximately 650,000 of Latvia's 2.5 million inhabitants are noncitizens. According to estimates of the country's naturalization department, 20,000-25,000 people could be expected to become citizens each year under the new legislation.

On October 15, parliament amended the constitution with a new chapter outlining 27 generally recognized human rights, which until then had been protected by provisions contained in an interim Constitutional Law. Despite objections from Latvia's ethnic Russian population, parliament passed a constitutional amendment declaring Latvian as the official state language and adopted an education law requiring all state schools to teach in Latvian by 2004.

Women possess the same legal rights as men, although they frequently face hiring and pay discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace.