RIGA, June 5 (RAPSI) – A petition challenging the introduction of the euro was launched in Latvia on Wednesday, according to a statement on the website of the "For Lats, Against Euro" organization.

The organizers need to collect 30,000 signatures from Latvian nationals during the first stage of their campaign. Subsequently, Latvia’s Central Election Commission will announce the second stage, which is to be financed from the national budget.

If 150,000 people support the movement against the euro during the second stage, the issue could be moved for consideration to a national referendum.

Latvia plans to join the eurozone on January 1, 2014. However, polls show that over 60% of the population are against the euro. Latvia’s currency is the lats (plural: lati), subdivided into 100 santimi (singular: santims).