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)
01 Oct 2022
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
01 Nov 2022
Timing of election
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections
03 Oct 2026
Number of seats at stake
100
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election
19
Total number of candidates
1,829
Number of male candidates
1,164
Number of female candidates
665
Percentage of women candidates
36.4%

Voter turnout

Registered voters
1,542,407
Voters
916,691
Voter turnout
59.4%

Results

About 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
7
Percentage of parties winning seats
36.8%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
26.0%
Alternation of power after elections
No
Number of parties in government
3
Names of parties in government
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

Parties or coalitions winning seats
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
30.0%
Women Directly Elected
30
Other notes on the elections

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

New legislature

Total number of men after the election
70
Total number of women after the election
30
Percentage of women after the election
30.0%
First-term parliamentarians
58
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
58.0%
Date of the first session
01 Nov 2022

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
Edvards Smiltēns (Male)
Date of birth: 1984
Political party
United List - Latvian Green Party, Latvian Regional Alliance, Liepāja Party
Date of election
01 Nov 2022

Historical data for IPU membership

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Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No