Deputy Jānis Zariņš (JV) submitted a proposal for amendments to the Law on Electronic Mass Media, stipulating that radio programs must be broadcast only in the Latvian language.
The changes will not apply to music.
The proposal provides for the addition of Article 18 of the law, establishing that in the future, a broadcasting license will be issued exclusively for broadcasting in the Latvian language.
It is also proposed to clarify the language regulation of radio programs, stipulating that radio broadcasts must be conducted in the Latvian language. If fragments in a foreign language are used in the program, they must be translated into Latvian. Exceptions are provided for programs intended for language learning, interactive online broadcasts, as well as live broadcasts within the framework of international cooperation.
The transitional provisions of the amendments stipulate that the new procedure will come into effect on January 21, 2034. Until that date, existing electronic media will be able to continue broadcasting in the previous language or submit a proposal to switch to the Latvian language. If the transition is not carried out, the broadcasting license will be revoked after the established date.
The leader of the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) faction, Harijs Rokpelnis, in response to a question about whether ZZS would support such changes, informed the LETA agency that this issue has not yet been discussed within the faction.
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