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Europe
Latvia |
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| Last reviewed: 31 March 2009 |
Country information
POLITICS
Recent Political Developments
In March 1990 a new Supreme Council was elected, which on 4 May 1990 voted for the Declaration of the Restoration of Independence. The Supreme Council was dominated by the Popular Front, but managed to reach a consensus with other groups. Supreme Council Chairman (and Head of State) Anatoljjs Gorbunovs (a Reform Communist who later joined the Latvia's Way electoral bloc) did much to promote consensus. The government was headed by Ivars Godmanis from 1990-93. During this period Latvia reverted to its 1922 Constitution. (Latvia moved more slowly than the other Baltic States towards a new constitution and party political system, and reform in general, partly because of its large Russian minority. One cause of delay was indecision over the question of citizenship for the Russians who had settled in Latvia in the Soviet period).
In June 1993 Latvia's first post-independence parliamentary elections resulted in the formation of a minority centre-right nationalist coalition government committed to free market reform. Centre-right governments have been the norm since then.
Electoral System and Elections
The 100-seat Saiema (parliament) is identical to the legislature, which existed before the Second World War. Deputies (MPs) are elected for a four-year term.
Presidential Elections
The President is elected by parliamentarians for a four-year term and can hold office for no more than two consecutive terms. Any Latvian citizen enjoying full rights over the age of forty may be elected. People holding dual citizenship cannot stand. In May 2007 Valdis Zatlers was elected Latvia’s new President, taking over from long-standing incumbent President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, who had been in office for the maximum two term period. Zatlers was officially inaugurated on 8 July.
Parliamentary Elections
On 7 October 2006 Latvia held elections for the ninth Saeima (Parliament). The allocation of seats in the Saeima is currently as follows:
Party Name, Seats
People's Party (TP) 21
Greens' and Farmers Union (ZZS) 17
New Era (JL): 14
Harmony Centre (SC): 17
Latvia's First Party/Latvia's Way (LPP/LC)10
For Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National Independence Movement (TB/LNNK): 5
For Human Rights in a United Latvia (PCTVL): 6
Independent (MP's who have split from the People's Party, For Fatherland and Freedom, New Era and Greens' and Farmers Union): 10
Another 12 parties failed to reach the 5% threshold. Turn-out was 62.28%, well down on the 71.51% achieved in 2002.
Prime Minister Aivars Kalvitis became the first sitting Prime Minister to retain his position after the elections. He created a coalition of his own People’s Party, Greens and Farmers Union, LPP/LC and TB/LNNK. His government resigned in December 2007. Ivars Godmanis (LPP/LC) became Prime Minister with the support of the same coalition but resigned in February 2009 after the government was unable to come to a consensus over their response to the financial crisis. Valdis Dombrovskis was nominated by President Zatlers as his successor. Dombrovskis’ Cabinet of Ministers was approved in March 2009 and saw Godmanis’ First Party/Latvia’s Way leave the governing coalition and both Dombrovskis’ New Era Party and the Civic Union join the new five party coalition.
