Latvia

Parliament

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

Historical data on women

Data on women’s right to vote and to stand for election, the date at which the first woman entered parliament, and female Heads of State or Government

Women's suffrage

Date of independence: 1991
Notes: No information available
Year of first woman in parliament: 1930

Notes: 1930: 5 Women had been previously elected to the Constitutional Assembly of 1920. Women were also elected to the Supreme Council of the SSR of Latvia which became the first legislature of Latvia after the restoration of the country's independence on 21 August 1991. 1990: Supreme Soviet. Became first legislature after Latvia became independen in September 1991.
Year of first woman speaker: 1995

Women’s right to vote

Women’s right to vote: 1918
National or local: National
Restricted or universal suffrage: Universal

Notes: When Latvia was first independent, women were granted the right to vote in 1918. Under Soviet administration, women had equally the right to vote and this right was confirmed at independence, in 1990.

Women’s right to stand for election

Women's right to stand for election: 1918
National or local: National
Restricted or universal: Universal

Notes: When Latvia was first independent, women were granted the right to vote and stand for election in 1918. Under Soviet administration, women retained these rights; they were confirmed at independence, in 1990.