Members of the Saeima Legal Commission today supported the transfer for a second reading in parliament of the amendments prepared by Saeima deputies from "New Unity" to the law on administrative penalties for offenses in the field of governance, public order, and the use of the state language, which provide for an increase in fines for manifestations of disrespect for the state language.
As reported, these amendments provide for an increase in administrative fines for violations of the rules for using the state language and for tightening the norms regarding disrespect for the state language.
"The Latvian language is the foundation of Latvia as a national state; its protection and use are not only a matter of culture but also of security," emphasized the head of the Saeima faction of "New Unity," Edmunds Jurēvics, noting that these amendments are not just a repressive tool but a clear position of the state regarding the importance of the state language.
In recent years, the State Language Center has recorded more than 4,000 violations, including cases where the state language is not used in the performance of professional duties. The current fines, established in 2020, no longer correspond to the economic situation and current language policy, therefore appropriate actions are necessary, the political force believes.
The amendments propose to increase the amount of monetary fines in almost all articles of the law regulating the use of the state language.
The changes affect both individuals and legal entities and are aimed at preventive impact to strengthen societal respect for the norms established by the state, especially for the state language.
For individuals, the fine for various violations has so far ranged from seven to 28 penalty units. It is now proposed to increase this amount to 10-39 units.
For legal entities, the fine has so far ranged from 28 to 140 penalty units, with specific articles reaching up to 600 or 1,000 units. It is now proposed to increase it to 39-1,390 units depending on the severity of the violation.
The proposed fine for officials is also set to increase from 14-60 penalty units to 20-84 units.
The amendments also include a new version of Article 20 - disrespect for the state language. Politicians propose to establish that for explicit manifestations of disrespect for the state language, as well as for actions aimed at diminishing the status and significance of the state language, a monetary fine of 20 to 400 penalty units will be applied. Currently, for explicit manifestations of disrespect for the state language, a monetary fine of seven to 140 penalty units is applied.
One penalty unit equals five euros.
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