More than 212,000 Latvian citizens, well more than the number required, have signed petitions calling for a national referendum on controversial amendments to two security laws, according to provisional data released May 3 by the Central Election Commission in Rīga.

Meanwhile, the Latvian parliament, the Saeima, on May 3 struck language from the constitution that allows the government to issue orders while parliament is in recess that have the power of law. The security law amendments were first pushed through by emergency decree while the Saeima was enjoying its January recess.

Latvian media reported heightened activity at various locations around the country May 2 as citizens made use of the last day of the petition drive. It now appears almost sure that a referendum will be held on amendments to the National Security Law and the State Law on Security Institutions—an action some observers have said will be a vote of confidence in the government and the parliament.

The number of signatures represents 14.23 percent of the number of voters in the last parliamentary election. To call a referendum on either question, 10 percent or 149,064 citizens had to sign the petition.

More than 930 Latvian citizens abroad signed the petitions at one of the 32 embassies or consulates that were designated for the signature drive.

The election commission still has to certify the petitions, but if the number of signatures stays above the 10 percent barrier then the referendum must take place no sooner than one month and no later than two months after the date of certification, the commission said in a press release.

The number of citizens abroad who signed the petition more than doubled in the last week of the drive. The greatest activity was reported at the Embassy of Latvia in Ottawa, Canada, where an organized effort to bus citizens from Toronto helped push the total number of signatures to 180. The embassy in Washington, D.C., was second with 141 signatures, followed by 133 signatures in London and 123 in Stockholm, Sweden, according to data provided by the election commission.

No one signed the petitions in embassies or consulates in Austria, Azerbaidjan, Belarus, Portugal or Turkey.

Using Article 81 of the constitution, the amendments were pushed through in January by a Cabinet of Ministers decree while the Saeima was in recess. The parliament approved the amendments on Feb. 1, but President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga vetoed them. The parliament overrode the veto on March 1. On March 10, Vīķe-Freiberga for the first time in her eight-year presidency invoked her constitutional power to freeze implementation of a law, which set in motion the call for a popular referendum.

Just days before the petition drive began April 3, the parliament rescinded the changes, returning the security laws to their original wording before January’s decree. However, the petition process was already in motion and had to continue.

The Saeima now also has removed Article 81 from the constitution, the LETA news agency reported.

Among changes in the security laws was the makeup of the National Security Council, which has oversight of the country’s security institutions. Under the amendments, the council would be led by the prime minister and would consist of the ministers of defense, foreign affairs, interior and justice—rather than the heads of the security institutions themselves. Some critics said the amendments were an attempt by Prime Minister Aigars Kalvītis to consolidate power, while others raised concern about politicians having access to sensitive information. The government argued the amendments would lead to more effective use of security resources.

A number of diaspora organizations voiced their support for the referendum and urged citizens abroad to sign the petition.

It took the Swedes just 29 seconds to get on the scoreboard against Latvia, and the April 30 hockey game was all downhill from there. Latvia now will have to win against Italy if it is to avoid relegation in the 2007 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship in Moscow.

Sweden smashed Latvia 8-2 in the preliminary round game that at times seemed more about penalties than goals.

Sweden’s Nicklas Backstrom scored the first goal against Latvian goalkeeper Edgars Masalskis. Alexander Steen and Jorgen Jonsson were credited with assists, according to the official Web site of the World Championship, ihwc.net.

At 6:28 into the second period, Sweden added another goal off the stick of Johan Akerman, who was assisted by Jonathan Hedstrom. At 7:48 into the period, Latvia’s Leonids Tambijevs was sent to the penalty box for high sticking, so Sweden took advantage and scored again on a power play. Credit for the point went to Rickard Wallin, with assists from Akerman and Tony Martenson.

Just under two minutes from the end of the period, Sweden made it 4-0 when Fredrik Bremberg scored. He was aided by Dick Tarnstrom and Johan Davidsson.

For the third period, Latvia brought in a fresh goalkeeper, veteran Sergejs Naumovs. The Latvian offense appeared fresher, too. A minute into the period, Kaspars Daugaviņš, assisted by Herberts Vasiļjevs and Oļegs Sorokins, scored Latvia’s first goal on a power play. And at 2:31 into the period, Aleksejs Širokovs scored, assisted by Aleksandrs Macijevskis and Aleksandrs Jerofejevs.

The Latvian rally remained brief, however, as the Swedes quickly took back the ice and scored four more goals. Johansson scored at 3:08, assisted by Tarnstrom and Backstrom. Patric Hornqvist made it 6-2 at 15:13 into the period. He was assisted by Bremberg and Tarnstrom.

Fredrik Warg added another Swedish goal at 16:30. He was assisted by Jonsson. And Tarnstrom got the final point, scoring at 17:15 into the period with assists from Hornqvist and Davidsson.

The Swedes took 30 shots on goal, which Latvia got 24 attempts at getting the puck past Swedish goalkeeper Daniel Henriksson. Latvia racked up 24 minutes in the penalty box, while Sweden had 18.

A total of 5,250 spectators attended the game, according to IHWC.net.

Latvia plays Italy in a game scheduled at 16:15 hours Moscow time May 2 in Arena Khodynka.

A total of 125 Latvians living abroad in 14 countries have signed a symbolic petition in support of members of the Latvian intelligentsia who have publicly expressed their agreement with efforts to call a national referendum on controversial amendments to two national security laws.

The signatures are being gathered by the Chicago-based cikaga.com Web site, edited by Artis Inka. The goal, he said in an e-mail, is to encourage friends and relatives in Latvia to sign the petitions. Latvian citizens have until May 2 to sign the petitions.

“It is almost impossible for Latvian citizens abroad to participate in this process,” Inka told Latvians Online. “For example, in Australia, Argentina (and) Brazil no opportunity exists.”

The process of collecting signatures began April 3 following President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga’s March 10 decision to suspend implementation of the amendments. Even though the parliament rescinded the amendments after her decision, the petition drive had to continue. A number of observers have noted that the potential referendum is not so much about the amendments, but about expressing lack of confidence in the Saeima (the Latvian parliament) and the coalition government headed by Prime Minister Aigars Kalvītis.

It was Kalvītis and the Cabinet of Ministers who pushed through the amendments in January by emergency decree while the Saeima was in recess. The amendments gave the government more oversight of national security institutions, a move some critics claimed allowed politicians too much power over potentially sensitive information and investigations. The Saeima subsequently approved the amendments, but Vīķe-Freiberga vetoed them. After the Saeima overrode the veto, the president used her constitutional right to suspend implementation of the amendments, which automatically raised the possibility of a national referendum. Before the petition drive could start, however, the Saeima on March 29 rescinded the amendments.

Led by former foreign minister Sandra Kalniete (now a member of the Jaunais laiks, or New Era, party), a number of Latvian political, social and cultural leaders on April 12 issued a public appeal to citizens to sign the petition.

The petition hosted by cikaga.com is purely symbolic. Those who have signed it, the Web site said in a press release, are warning the current and future governments that Latvians do not accept attempts by small groups of people to grab political power.

Inka said those who signed the symbolic petition are invited to suggest what further should be done with it.

More than 600 stations around Latvia have been open to gather signatures on the referendum petitions, while 32 Latvian embassies and consulates have been open to gather signatures from citizens living abroad. In the United States, the only station is the Embassy of Latvia in Washington, D.C.

As of April 25, more than 110,000 signatures had been gathered in favor of the referendum. At least 149,064 signatures are needed, representing 10 percent of the number of voters in the last parliamentary election.

A provisional total is expected to be announced May 3 by the Central Election Commission in Rīga.