Latvia 1998
In 1998, Latvia continued the process of updating its restored 1922 Constitution by adding a chapter on human rights, including both social and political rights; the process also made Latvian the sole official language.
Following the procedures outlined in the 1922 Constitution (which was readopted in 1993), the legislature’s legal committee considered concept proposals from a parliamentary special committee and the Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK party, which was a member of the governing coalition. The legal committee then drafted its own text, taking into account the two concept proposals, and this text became the basis for the amendments. The nationalist Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK draft supported making Latvian the state language. Since some 30% of the Latvian population is Russian (and thus not Latvian citizens), this was a controversial proposal. It also contravened Latvian efforts to join the European Union, which requires respect for minority languages as well as the explicit protection of human rights.
The ultimate text of the amendments included the state language provision. Latvian political parties believe that consensus among factions is required for constitutional amendments, and so despite allegations of bias and protests from the Russian-speaking minority, they accepted the state language provision in return for Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK’s support for the human rights chapter. The 100-member Saeima failed on several occasions to achieve the necessary 2/3 quorum for a constitutional amendment; on October 15, 1998, quorum was achieved and the amendments passed 76-0. 26 members were absent or not voting, but only a 2/3 majority of those present was needed. The amendments entered into force on November 6, 1998.