Latvia
Parliament
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Political system
Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
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Parliamentary system
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Structure of parliament
Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
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Unicameral
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IPU membership
Current membership status
View field in the data dictionary -
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
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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.
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04 Oct 2014
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Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
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04 Nov 2014
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Timing of election
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
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Early elections
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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.
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100
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Scope of elections
Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
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Full renewal
Candidates
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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.
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13
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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".
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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.
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Number of male candidates
Number of male candidates
View field in the data dictionary -
775
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Number of female candidates
Number of female candidates
View field in the data dictionary -
381
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Percentage of women candidates
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
View field in the data dictionary -
33.0%
Voter turnout
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Registered voters
Number of people registered to vote
View field in the data dictionary -
1,552,235
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Voters
Number of people who actually voted
View field in the data dictionary -
913,491
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Voter turnout
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
View field in the data dictionary -
58.9%
Results
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About the election
Short description of the context and results of the election.
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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.
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Number of parties winning seats
The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
View field in the data dictionary -
6
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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.
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46.2%
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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.
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24.0%
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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.
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Not applicable
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Number of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
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3
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Names of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
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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
Political group | Total |
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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
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91
- Number of women elected
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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.
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Percentage of women elected
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected by the number of seats filled.
View field in the data dictionary -
17.3%
- Women Directly Elected
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19
- Sources
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Parliament (24.10.2014, 03.12.2014, 01.01.2017)
Central Election Commission of Latvia
New legislature
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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.
View field in the data dictionary -
91
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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.
View field in the data dictionary -
19
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Percentage of women after the election
The percentage is calculated by dividing the total number of women in this parliament/chamber by the current number of members.
View field in the data dictionary -
17.3%
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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.
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45
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Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of first-term parliamentarians by the number of seats at stake in the election.
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40.9%
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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.
View field in the data dictionary -
04 Nov 2014
First Speaker of the new legislature
- Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
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Inara Murniece (Female)
Date of birth: 1970 -
Political party
The political party to which the Speaker belonged to at the moment of the election. In some parliaments, the Speaker suspends or relinquishes their party membership during their term in office and is considered as an independent member.
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National Alliance of All for Latvia!" - "For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK" (NA)
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Date of election
The date of the election of the Speaker may be different from the date of the first session of the new legislature.
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04 Nov 2014