In the spotlight of civil society: threats to the Society Integration Foundation and attempts to weaken democratic processes in Latvia

On November 8, the Civic Alliance – Latvia (CAL) raised alarm about a proposal submitted to the Saeima by the political party of "Zaļo un Zemnieku savienība" to liquidate the Society Integration Foundation (SIF) — a state institution that for more than 20 years has provided support to non-governmental organizations, media, and social cohesion initiatives.

Civil society organizations actively voiced their opposition to the liquidation of SIF on social media. CAL representatives provided explanations in the media and met with the “Zaļo un Zemnieku savienība” parliamentary faction to clarify SIF’s importance and the potential risks. 

The Memorandum Council adopted an official position, which was sent to the government and the Saeima, while several organizations signed a joint letter warning of a serious threat to civil society and media freedom.

On November 12, the coalition parties agreed that SIF would not be liquidated, while also deciding to conduct an audit of SIF’s functions and an assessment of administrative costs. This decision is crucial, and the Civic Alliance – Latvia supports the evaluation and improvement of SIF’s work. However, according to publicly available information, the proposal to liquidate SIF has still not been withdrawn.

CAL emphasizes that such a proposal should be viewed as an attempt to weaken civil society, limit opportunities for public participation, and undermine the independent media environment, signalling a worrying trend toward restricting democratic processes.

CAL actively advocated for the protection of civil society and media freedom by sending a letter to the highest state officials about the importance of a strong civil society and independent media, meeting with representatives of political party “Zaļo un Zemnieku savienība” to explain the concerns of civil society. The Memorandum Council adopted a position strongly opposing both the proposals to abolish the Society Integration Foundation and the disproportionate and undiscussed funding cuts to its programs. 

Together with other organizations, CAL signed and sent a letter about the threats to civil society and media freedom, actively explained SIF’s role in societal development, represented its position in the media and public discussions, and shared explanatory information on SIF, its functions, and the importance of civil society organizations on social media — calling on the public to continue expressing support for SIF as an essential pillar of democracy.

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