Presentation of MEP R. Zīle at European Parliament ECR Group meeting in Riga, Latvia (14 - 17 September 2010).

1. Information and media space in Latvia
• Split into two information spaces: Latvian-language and Russian-language;
• Strictly divided audiences;
• The gap continues to grow;
• Different interpretations, different messages, different aims.

2. The New Russian Foreign Policy Doctrine
(prepared by the Russian Ministry of Foregn Affairs)

3. The New Russian Foreign Policy Doctrine
(prepared by the Russian Ministry of Foregn Affairs)
• Directs Russia’s foreign policy towards a more cooperative and self-
interested approach;
• Offers a new approach, promoting “mutual dependency with leading world
powers on the basis of the interpenetration of economies and cultures” as
being in Moscow’s interests, before concluding that the EU and the US are
its most “desirable partners”
• In the Baltic States, Moscow’s plan is to try to acquire the
use of territory and transport infrastructure to transit
goods to the EU, and will consider buying “enterprises in
the real economy in the sphere of power engineering,
information technologies, logistics, and transport”

4. Which course for the next Government to take?
• To keep relying on energy resources from Russia OR go on with
diversification of energy supplies, reducing dependency on a single supplier;
• To give green light for Russia to acquire shares (and to gain control) in
transport, energy, IT enterprises and the banking sector OR restrict possibilities
for Russia to rise its influence in the region via the economy tools;
• To facilitate the sale of real estate in Latvia to Russian citizens (by granting the
buyer the EU residence permit) OR keep strict control over those obtaining the
EU residence permit;
• To interrupt the financial support Programme with the IMF OR to continue
it;
• To keep the current tax system OR to shift the tax burden from the less
wealthy citizens to real estate and capital income;
• To weaken the position of the Latvian language OR secure Latvian as the
only official language in Latvia;
• To restructure the naional economy in order to create a stable middle-class OR
maintain a narrow business elite;

5. Going back to January (before the party consolidation)
Opinion-polls January 2010:
Possible division of seats in the Parliament
The only possible majority coalition:
40 36 the left-wing pro-Russian Government
35
30
25
57 seats 19
20
14
15
10
10 7 7 7
5 2% 3,1% 2%
0
For Human Union Greens' and Latvian First Peoples' Party "Society for New Era (EPP) The Civic TB/ LNNK All For Latvia!
Right in "Harmony Farmer's Party/ Latvia's (EPP) Different Union (EPP) (ECR)
United Latvia Centre" (S&D) Union Way (ALDE) Poltics"
(Verts/ ALE) (Verts/ALE)

6. Situation in August 2010 (after the party consolidation)
Opinion-polls August 2010:
Possible division of seats in the Parliament
35
30
30
25
19
20 The 'Unity' Group
15 24 seats
9
10
Alliance "For a TB/LNNK
5 Good Latvia“ All for Latvia
9 seats 9 seats
0
For Human Union Greens' and Latvian First Peoples' Party "Society for New Era (EPP) The Civic TB/ LNNK All For Latvia!
Right in "Harmony Farmer's Party/ Latvia's (EPP) Different Union (EPP) (ECR)
United Latvia Centre" (S&D) Union Way (ALDE) Poltics"
(Verts/ ALE) (Verts/ALE)

7. Possible Government coalition
Option I – large left-wing pro-Russian coalition
67 seats

8. Possible Government coalition
Option II - left-wing pro-Russian coalition
58 seats

9. Possible Government coalition
Option III - Mixed coalition
54 seats

10. Possible Government coalition
Option IV –
Only possibility for a conservative and centre-right coalition
52 seats