Latvia

Parliament

Political system Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
Parliamentary system
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Structure of parliament Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
Unicameral
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IPU membership Current membership status
Yes
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Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections

Background

Election date(s) The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
01.10.2022
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
01.11.2022
Timing of election Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
03.10.2026
Number of seats at stake Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
100
Scope of elections Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
1,829
Number of male candidates Number of male candidates
1,164
Number of female candidates Number of female candidates
665
Percentage of women candidates The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
36.36%
Number of parties contesting the election This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
19

Voter turnout

Registration Number of people registered to vote
1,542,407
Votes Number of people who actually voted
916,691
Voter turnout The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
59.43%

Results

About the election Short description of the context and results of the election.
Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš’s New Unity party (VIENOTIBA, see note) came first, taking 26 seats in the 100-member parliament (up from eight in 2018). VIENOTIBA took 10 more seats than the Union of Farmers and Greens (ZZS), led by Mr. Aivars Lembergs. On 3 October, President Egils Levits tasked Mr. Kariņš with forming a new government. On 1 November, the newly elected Parliament held its first session and elected Mr. Edvards Smiltēns (United List) as its Speaker.

On 7 December, Mr. Kariņš announced a three-party coalition comprising his New Unity party, the United List – Latvian Green Party, the Latvian Regional Alliance, the Liepāja Party, and the National Alliance of "All for Latvia!" – "For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK" (NA). The coalition jointly held 54 seats. On 14 December, Parliament approved Mr. Kariņš’s new government.

The 2022 elections were held against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine that started in February. Prime Minister Kariņš has urged the European Union to take a decisive stance against Russia. About 25% of Latvia’s 1.9 million inhabitants are ethnic Russians. The Social Democratic Party "Harmony" (SDPS, a pro-Russia party that held the most seats in the outgoing legislature) failed to enter parliament in 2022. The “For Stability!” party, founded by former Harmony member Aleksejs Rosļikovs, won 11 seats.

Note:
Prime Minister Kariņš’s government that was formed after the 2018 elections initially comprised the following five parties: New Unity (VIENOTIBA), New Conservative Party, KPV LV ("Who owns the State?"), For Development/For! (AP), and National Alliance of "All for Latvia!" – "For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK" (NA).
Number of parties winning seats The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
7
Percentage of parties winning seats The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
36.84%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
26%
Alternation of power after elections The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
No
Note on the alternation of power
Although the composition of the government has changed, the executive is led by the same Prime Minister.
Number of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
3
Names of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
New Unity (VIENOTIBA), the United List - Latvian Green Party, Latvian Regional Alliance, Liepāja Party, National Alliance of "All for Latvia!" - "For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK" (NA)
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political groups winning seats breakdown
Political group Total
New Unity (VIENOTIBA) 26
Union of Farmers and Greens (ZZS) 16
United List - Latvian Green Party, Latvian Regional Alliance, Liepāja Party 15
National Alliance of "All for Latvia!" - "For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK" (NA) 13
For Stability! 11
Progressives 10
Latvia First 9
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
70
Number of women elected
30
Percentage of women elected The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
30%
Other notes
Note on the Expected date of next elections:
Elections to the Parliament (Saeima) are held every four years on the first Saturday in October.

Note on the date of the first session of the new parliament:
The newly elected Parliament (Saeima) holds its first sitting on the first Tuesday in November, when the mandate of the previous Saeima expires.
Sources
Parliament (19.10.2022, 02.11.2022, 15.12.2022)
https://titania.saeima.lv/personal/deputati/saeima14_depweb_public.nsf/fStatistics?readform&type=4&l...
https://sv2022.cvk.lv/pub/velesanu-rezultati
https://sv2022.cvk.lv/pub/kandidatu-saraksti
https://www.cvk.lv/en/elections/saeima-elections
https://www.saeima.lv/en/14th-saeima/parliamentary-groups-14
BBC Monitoring
https://www.euronews.com/
https://www.reuters.com
Women Directly Elected
30

New legislature

Total number of men after the election The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
70
Total number of women after the election The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
30
First-term parliamentarians The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
58
Date of the first session The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
01.11.2022
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Edvards Smiltēns (Male)
Political party
United List - Latvian Green Party, Latvian Regional Alliance, Liepāja Party
Date of election
01.11.2022