Latvia

Parliament

Political system: Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament: Unicameral
IPU membership: Yes

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): 04 Oct 2014
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 04 Nov 2014
Timing of election: Early elections
Number of seats at stake: 100
Scope of elections: Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election: 13
Total number of candidates: 1,156

Notes: Timing of election: In accordance with Article 13 of the Constitution, the Saeima elected following early elections will serve a shorter term than the statutory four years. Its mandate shall expire upon the convening of the new Saeima on the first Tuesday in November three years after such elections.
Number of male candidates: 775
Number of female candidates: 381
Percentage of women candidates: 33.0%

Voter turnout

Registered voters: 1,552,235
Voters: 913,491
Voter turnout: 58.9%

Results

About the election: The coalition led by Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma (Unity) retained power, winning 61 seats in the 100-member Parliament. The Social Democratic Party "Harmony" (SDPS, which was part of the "Centre for Harmony" alliance in 2011), led by the Mayor of Riga, Mr. Nils Usakovs, remained the largest single party, taking 24 seats, down from 31 in 2011. Its electoral ally, the Regional Alliance of Latvia (LRA), took eight seats. Following the election, President Andris Berzins tasked Ms. Straujuma with forming a new government (see note).

Ms. Straujuma - who had become the country's first woman Prime Minister in January 2014 - ran on the government's record. She underscored that, despite the 2008 economic crisis, the country's economic situation had improved since Unity came into power in 2009. Following the crisis in Ukraine, the Prime Minister called for a permanent NATO presence in Latvia and argued that voting for the SDPS would undermine the country's stability. Meanwhile, the SDPS promised closer ties with the Russian Federation while maintaining Latvia's membership of NATO and the EU, and considered that Russian should be the country's second official language.

Note:

The coalition government formed after the 2011 elections comprised Unity (VIENOTIBA), Zatlers' Reform Party and the National Alliance of "All for Latvia!" - "For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK" (NA) and was led by Mr. Valdis Dombrovskis. Upon his resignation in January 2014, Unity nominated Ms. Straujuma to head the government. Her candidacy was supported by the three coalition parties and the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS), which had been in opposition. In the 2014 elections, members of Zatlers' Reform Party ran under Unity's banner. The coalition government formed after the 2014 elections therefore comprised Unity, the ZZS and the NA.
Number of parties winning seats: 6
Percentage of parties winning seats: 46.2%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition: 24.0%
Alternation of power after elections: Not applicable
Number of parties in government: 3
Names of parties in government: Unity (VIENOTIBA), the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) and the National Alliance of "All for Latvia!" - "For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK" (NA)

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group	Total
Social Democratic Party Harmony" (SDPS)	24
Unity (VIENOTIBA)	23
Union of Farmers and Greens (ZZS)	21
National Alliance of All for Latvia!" - "For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK" (NA)	17
Regional Alliance of Latvia (LRA)	8
Latvia from the Heart (No sirds Latvijai)	7

Members elected, by sex

Number of men elected: 91
Number of women elected: 19

Notes: Nineteen women were elected in October 2014. However after the formation of the new government in November, the total number of women parliamentarians decreased to 18.
Percentage of women elected: 17.3%
Women Directly Elected: 19
Sources: Parliament (24.10.2014, 03.12.2014, 01.01.2017)

Central Election Commission of Latvia

New legislature

Total number of men after the election: 91
Total number of women after the election: 19
Percentage of women after the election: 17.3%
First-term parliamentarians: 45
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians: 40.9%
Date of the first session: 04 Nov 2014

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature: Inara Murniece (Female)
Date of birth: 1970
Political party: National Alliance of All for Latvia!" - "For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK" (NA)
Date of election: 04 Nov 2014