For Human Rights in United Latvia
Encyclopedia
For Human Rights in United Latvia is a left-wing political party
in Latvia
, supported mainly by ethnic Russians and other non-Latvian minorities. Co-chairpersons of its Ruling Board are Tatjana Ždanoka
, Jakovs Pliners
and Miroslav Mitrofanov
.
PCTVL emphasizes issues important to the Russian community. It supports Russian and Latgalian
as co-official languages in those municipalities, where there are more than 20% of their native speakers, and requests to grant Latvian citizenship to all non-citizens
of Latvia. It supports stronger ties with Russia
and was the only major political organization to oppose Latvia's membership in NATO. Economic issues are less emphasized but PCTVL's economic positions tend to be left-wing.
PCTVL was established in May 1998 by three political parties: Tautas Saskaņas Partija (People's Harmony Party), Līdztiesība
(Equal Rights) and Latvijas Sociālistiskā Partija (Socialist Party of Latvia), all of which were mainly supported by Russian-speaking voters. They won 16 out of 100 seats in 1998 elections
and 25 seats in 2002 elections
and municipal elections in 2001, winning 13 out of 60 seats in Riga
city council. After the municipal elections, PCTVL became a part of Riga's city government and its member Sergejs Dolgopolovs
became the vice-mayor of Riga. At the municipal elections in 2005 the party won 13.68% of the votes and 9 seats in the Riga
city council.
During this period, PCTVL's most prominent leaders were Jānis Jurkāns, Alfrēds Rubiks
and Tatjana Ždanoka
. Rubiks and Ždanoka were previously prominent as the leaders of Latvian Communist Party and federalist movement in Latvia in early 1990s. They are fairly popular in the Russian community but very unpopular among ethnic Latvians. This is one of reasons of PCTVL remaining in the opposition nationally, because any other party could face a massive backlash from their ethnically Latvian voters if they entered into a coalition with Rubiks and Ždanoka.
PCTVL partially broke up in 2003. Tautas Saskaņas Partija was the first to leave the alliance and Latvijas Sociālistiskā Partija followed half a year later. The remnant of PCTVL had only 6 members of the Latvian parliament (out of 25 that the alliance had before the breakup) but, according to public opinion polls, 2004 European and 2005 municipal elections remained more popular than any of the parties that left the alliance. That's usually connected with the fact that ForHRUL was the main force supporting Russian School Defense Staff
activities in 2003-2005.
At the elections for the European Parliament
PCTVL gained 10.66% of the vote and one seat by Tatjana Ždanoka
who affiliates with the Greens/EFA grouping in the European Parliament. It has also proposed the idea of a Europe-wide party of ethnic Russians. PCTVL supports a federal Europe, with a "common economical and political space from Lisbon
to Vladivostok
".
In the 2006 parliamentary elections PCTVL won 6 seats. In 2007 the alliance was transformed into one party. In recent years the party's support has declined as ethnic Russian voters have switched allegiance to Harmony Centre
and in the Latvian parliamentary election, 2010, the party lost its representation in the Latvian Parliament.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, supported mainly by ethnic Russians and other non-Latvian minorities. Co-chairpersons of its Ruling Board are Tatjana Ždanoka
Tatjana Ždanoka
Tatyana Arkad'evna Zhdanok, , born May 8, 1950 in Riga, is a Latvian politician and Member of the European Parliament and a co-Chairperson of For Human Rights in United Latvia; part of the European Greens–European Free Alliance group. Zhdanok is co-chairperson of ForHRUL since 2001...
, Jakovs Pliners
Jakovs Pliners
Jakovs Pliners or Yakov Pliner, Russian — Я́ков Гда́льевич Пли́нер is a Latvian politician of Jewish origin and MP of the 7th, 8th and 9th convocations for the union For Human Rights in United Latvia...
and Miroslav Mitrofanov
Miroslav Mitrofanov
Miroslavs Mitrofanovs or Miroslav Mitrofanov, , born December 18, 1966 in Daugavpils, Latvia, is a Latvian journalist and politician, Member of the 7th and 9th Saeima for For Human Rights in United Latvia...
.
PCTVL emphasizes issues important to the Russian community. It supports Russian and Latgalian
Latgalian language
Latgalian language can mean one of the following:#It was a language spoken by Latgalians in a great part of the area which is now Latvia. Latgalian was a member of the Baltic group of the Indo-European language family. Historically the Latvian language is derived from Latgalian Latgalian language...
as co-official languages in those municipalities, where there are more than 20% of their native speakers, and requests to grant Latvian citizenship to all non-citizens
Non-citizens (Latvia)
Non-citizens in Latvian law are individuals who are not citizens of Latvia or any other country but, who, in accordance with the Latvian law "Regarding the status of citizens of the former USSR who possess neither Latvian nor other citizenship", have the right to a non-citizen passport issued by...
of Latvia. It supports stronger ties with Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and was the only major political organization to oppose Latvia's membership in NATO. Economic issues are less emphasized but PCTVL's economic positions tend to be left-wing.
PCTVL was established in May 1998 by three political parties: Tautas Saskaņas Partija (People's Harmony Party), Līdztiesība
Equal Rights (Latvia)
Equal Rights was a political party in Latvia, mainly supported by the Russian minority.ER was founded on the basis of the "Equal Rights" faction of the Supreme Soviet as an NGO in 1993. The Equal Rights faction had been founded in April, 1990, after the Latvian parliamentary election, 1990.The...
(Equal Rights) and Latvijas Sociālistiskā Partija (Socialist Party of Latvia), all of which were mainly supported by Russian-speaking voters. They won 16 out of 100 seats in 1998 elections
Latvian parliamentary election, 1998
Elections for 7th Saeima, the parliament of Latvia were held on October 3, 1998. There were lists of candidates from 21 political parties, with a total of 1081 candidates...
and 25 seats in 2002 elections
Latvian parliamentary election, 2002
Elections for 8th Saeima, the parliament of Latvia were held on October 5, 2002. There were lists of candidates from 20 political parties, with a total of 1019 candidates. The voter participation was 71.51%, with 997,754 out of 1,395,287 eligible voters casting votes.Out of the 20 parties...
and municipal elections in 2001, winning 13 out of 60 seats in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
city council. After the municipal elections, PCTVL became a part of Riga's city government and its member Sergejs Dolgopolovs
Sergejs Dolgopolovs
Sergejs Dolgopolovs is a Latvian politician. He is a member of the Harmony Centre party and a deputy of the 9th Saeima . He began his current term in parliament on November 7, 2006.-External links:*...
became the vice-mayor of Riga. At the municipal elections in 2005 the party won 13.68% of the votes and 9 seats in the Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
city council.
During this period, PCTVL's most prominent leaders were Jānis Jurkāns, Alfrēds Rubiks
Alfreds Rubiks
Alfrēds Rubiks is a Latvian Socialist politician and a former leader of the Communist Party of Latvia. Currently he is the Member of the European Parliament from Latvia...
and Tatjana Ždanoka
Tatjana Ždanoka
Tatyana Arkad'evna Zhdanok, , born May 8, 1950 in Riga, is a Latvian politician and Member of the European Parliament and a co-Chairperson of For Human Rights in United Latvia; part of the European Greens–European Free Alliance group. Zhdanok is co-chairperson of ForHRUL since 2001...
. Rubiks and Ždanoka were previously prominent as the leaders of Latvian Communist Party and federalist movement in Latvia in early 1990s. They are fairly popular in the Russian community but very unpopular among ethnic Latvians. This is one of reasons of PCTVL remaining in the opposition nationally, because any other party could face a massive backlash from their ethnically Latvian voters if they entered into a coalition with Rubiks and Ždanoka.
PCTVL partially broke up in 2003. Tautas Saskaņas Partija was the first to leave the alliance and Latvijas Sociālistiskā Partija followed half a year later. The remnant of PCTVL had only 6 members of the Latvian parliament (out of 25 that the alliance had before the breakup) but, according to public opinion polls, 2004 European and 2005 municipal elections remained more popular than any of the parties that left the alliance. That's usually connected with the fact that ForHRUL was the main force supporting Russian School Defense Staff
Russian School Defense Staff
Russian School Defense Staff or Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools — movement in Latvia for protection of public secondary education in Russian...
activities in 2003-2005.
At the elections for the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
PCTVL gained 10.66% of the vote and one seat by Tatjana Ždanoka
Tatjana Ždanoka
Tatyana Arkad'evna Zhdanok, , born May 8, 1950 in Riga, is a Latvian politician and Member of the European Parliament and a co-Chairperson of For Human Rights in United Latvia; part of the European Greens–European Free Alliance group. Zhdanok is co-chairperson of ForHRUL since 2001...
who affiliates with the Greens/EFA grouping in the European Parliament. It has also proposed the idea of a Europe-wide party of ethnic Russians. PCTVL supports a federal Europe, with a "common economical and political space from Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
to Vladivostok
Vladivostok
The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
".
In the 2006 parliamentary elections PCTVL won 6 seats. In 2007 the alliance was transformed into one party. In recent years the party's support has declined as ethnic Russian voters have switched allegiance to Harmony Centre
Harmony Centre
Harmony Centre is a political alliance in Latvia. It was formed in 2005 and its member parties are the Social Democratic Party "Harmony" and the Socialist Party of Latvia Harmony Centre (abbreviated SC; ) is a political alliance in Latvia. It was formed in 2005 and its member parties are the...
and in the Latvian parliamentary election, 2010, the party lost its representation in the Latvian Parliament.
See also
- Giulietto ChiesaGiulietto ChiesaGiulietto Chiesa is an Italian journalist and politician, and was a Member of the European Parliament for North-West with the Independent - Di Pietro-Occhetto List Civil Society. Originally he represented Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, since 2006 - Party of European Socialists...
, an ItalianItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
candidate on the ForHRUL list for the 2009 European Parliament electionsEuropean Parliament election, 2009Elections to the European Parliament were held in the 27 member states of the European Union between 4 and 7 June 2009. A total of 736 Members of the European Parliament were elected to represent some 500 million Europeans, making these the biggest trans-national elections in history...
.
External links
- Official site — also in Russian and Latvian