Supplement to Scientific Comments of the First Sentence of Article 4 of the Satversme of the Republic of Latvia “The Official State Language in the Republic of Latvia is the Latvian Language”: Abstract

Abstract

The Latvian language is an essential element of constitutional identity of the Republic of Latvia, without which the Latvian constitutional system and the system of Constitution cannot be imagined, as such. Since 2021, the Official Language Day on 15 October has been celebrated. According to the President of Latvia Egils Levits the Official Language Day may serve as another opportunity to spread awareness and promote the use of the Latvian language as one of the main constitutional values of our state and nation. The Official Language Day is a meaningful contribution to the future tradition of celebrating the official language across society. The current study focuses on the issue of the official language in Latvia and its importance from the perspective of constitutional law. The experience of the Republic of Latvia is divided into two periods. The first – covers the period 1918–1940, when it was interrupted by the Soviet occupation. Consequently, after the restoration of independence in 1990, the second period can be defined: 1990–currently. If during the pre-war period the Latvian language was only enshrined in law, during the second period the official language has been enshrined in the Constitution (Satversme). The official language of the Latvian Constitution is specified in Section 4. The given article is designed to supplement the scientific comments of Section 4, which was issued in 2014. Keywords: Constitution (Satversme), Latvian language, official language, language policy, national minorities.