A provision on communication in Latvian is planned to be included in the Consumer Rights Protection Law 0 10

The proposal was submitted by opposition MP Nauris Puntulis from the National Alliance. It provides for the addition of an article "Language of Communication" to the law, according to which communication between the consumer and the seller or service provider (provision of information, service, and conclusion of contracts) is conducted in the state language.

According to the proposal, the service provider must ensure that documents prepared for the provision of services, the digital content used, the option to choose a language in the application, on the website, in the call center, or the on-site service infrastructure are available in Latvian or, if the client agrees and the seller or provider can ensure it, in the official language of a member state or candidate country of the European Union.

Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Economics Jurģis Miezainis stated to the deputies that the requirement to provide services in the state language is already established by the State Language Law, so there is no need to separately introduce such a requirement in the Consumer Rights Protection Law.

He noted that if the existing law is not working, it may need to be improved rather than introducing a duplicative requirement in another law.

In turn, MP Skaidrīte Abrahama pointed out that the proposal also imposes an obligation to communicate in Latvian for the consumer and expressed concerns that this may not be feasible in practice.

Representatives of the Saeima Legal Bureau noted that the purpose of the proposal is clear and deserves support; however, the requirement to communicate only in the state language is already established by the State Language Law. Including such a provision in another law could create many ambiguities and contradict other legal norms.

At the same time, the State Language Center expressed support for including such a provision in the law.