Forum, Latvia, Legislation, Society

Vladimirs Sokolovs, co-chairman of the Association of Citizens and Non-Citizens, told a press conference today that his organization had been working in non-citizens' interest ever since the independence of Latvia was restored, but all of its initiatives were turned down. Sokolovs also does not like the "attitude towards non-citizens" who, he believes, are seen as a threat, not a valuable resource that can be used for the nation's common good. "We will not get anywhere until we understand this," said Sokolovs.

The main goal of the Non-Citizen Congress is to liquidate the institute of non-citizens and create a "political nation", said the organization's representative Elizabete Krivcova. "We are against dividing the people into Latvians, Livs, Russians and others – we all have a common territory and culture, and we all must have equal rights," said Krivcova.

However, non-citizens have varied opinion on how this problem could be solved, for instance, some support automatic citizenship for all, or giving non-citizens the right to vote in local government elections. The problem will be discussed at various meetings in May and June, said Krivcova.

Of about 300,000 non-citizens in Latvia, only just about 1% become naturalized every year, which proves that the system is not, and will not be, working, said Krivcova. When asked why non-citizens do not want to become naturalized and therefore receive all the rights of a citizen, Krivcova said this was a matter of principle. In 1991, when many non-citizens on the Supreme Council voted for the restoration of Latvia's independence, the Popular Front of Latvia said that all permanent residents of Latvia would become citizens – which still has not happened and non-citizens feel offended, she said.

That is why non-citizens have decided to not complain and not to offend anyone anymore, but to establish their own representation. The non-citizens' parliament will not be an alternative to the government, but an organization that will represent non-citizens in the communication with the state and local governments, so all permanent residents of Latvia could express their opinions and be part of the decisions made by Saeima and the government.

Online voting at the kongress.lv portal will start already on May 25, whereas on June 1, the day when local government elections will be held in Latvia, non-citizen congress will open polling stations in Riga, Jurmala, Liepaja, Daugavpils, Rezekne, Olaine and Jelgava, where non-citizens will be able to vote for any of the 62 candidates nominated by the Non-Citizen Congress. Several polling stations in Riga will be open all week, and the elections of the non-citizen parliament will conclude on June 11.

The majority of candidates represent Riga; about one-third of the candidates are citizens of Latvia.

The election campaign is funded with funded with donations.