Latvian church property referendum, 1923

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A referendum on the transfer of church property was held in Latvia on 1 and 2 September 1923, [1] the first time a referendum had been held in the country. [2] Voters were asked whether the government should be stopped from transferring the Lutheran St James's Church in Riga to the Roman Catholic Church. Although a large majority voted for the proposal, voter turnout was well below the level required, and the church building was subsequently given to the Catholic Church. [3]

Latvia republic in Northeastern Europe

Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. Since its independence, Latvia has been referred to as one of the Baltic states. It is bordered by Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south, Russia to the east, and Belarus to the southeast, and shares a maritime border with Sweden to the west. Latvia has 1,957,200 inhabitants and a territory of 64,589 km2 (24,938 sq mi). The country has a temperate seasonal climate.

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia Christian denomination

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia is a Lutheran Protestant church in Latvia. Latvia's Lutheran heritage dates back to the Reformation. Both the Nazi and communist regimes persecuted the church harshly before religious freedom returned to Latvia in 1988. Unlike Estonia, where state atheism and the ongoing European secularization reduced the once 80% Lutheran majority to almost 10% by 2011, the Latvian Lutheran church had dropped to around 20% but has recovered slightly and now includes approximately 30% of the population.

St. Jamess Cathedral, Riga Church in Riga, Latvia

St. James's Cathedral, or the Cathedral Basilica of St. James, is the Roman Catholic cathedral of Riga in Latvia. The cathedral is dedicated to Saint James the Greater. The building is part of the Old Riga UNESCO World Heritage Site and lies directly opposite the House of the Livonian Noble Corporation, the meeting place of Latvia's parliament the Saeima.

Contents

Background

A plaque marking Lutheran church property at Rigas Doms (Riga Lutheran cathedral), Herdera laukums 6. Ev lut Baznicas ipasums.jpg
A plaque marking Lutheran church property at Rīgas Doms (Riga Lutheran cathedral), Herdera laukums 6.

The government led by Prime Minister Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics had started legislating for the transfer of Baltic German St James's Church to the Roman Catholic Church as well as forcing the Lutheran Church to share Riga Cathedral with the Catholics. [2] The moves were vigorously opposed by Paul Schiemann, a prominent defender of minority rights, who claimed the bill would "abandon the principles of a state of culture and law" during a parliamentary debate. [2]

Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics was a Latvian politician and diplomat who served as the first Foreign Minister of Latvia from its independence until 1924 and again from December of the same year until his death. He also served two terms as the Prime Minister of Latvia from June, 1921 to January, 1923 and from June 1923 to January, 1924. He was one of the founders of the Latvian Farmers' Union, one of Latvia's oldest political parties.

Baltic Germans ethnic Germans inhabitants of the eastern Baltic Sea

The Baltic Germans are ethnic German inhabitants of the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea, in what today are Estonia and Latvia. Since their expulsion from Estonia and Latvia and resettlement during the upheavals and aftermath of the Second World War, Baltic Germans have markedly declined as a geographically determined ethnic group. The largest groups of present-day descendants of the Baltic Germans are found in Germany and Canada. It is estimated that several thousand still reside in Latvia and Estonia.

Riga Cathedral Church in Riga, Latvia

Riga Cathedral is the Evangelical Lutheran cathedral in Riga, Latvia. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Riga.

Schiemann attracted international sympathy for the Lutheran Church's fight, and managed to force the country's first ever referendum. However, supporters of the transfer called for a boycott of the referendum. [2]

Results

ChoiceVotes%
For205,03699.7
Against5500.3
Invalid/blank votes150
Total205,736100
Registered voters/turnout963,25721.4
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Aftermath

Although the referendum was passed by a large margin, turnout was just 21.4%. [3] The referendum had required 400,000 to vote in favour for it to succeed, [2] but achieved only just over half the number.

Subsequently the church building was given over to the Roman Catholic Church, who took it over as their cathedral the following May. [2] The Lutherans were also forced to share Riga Cathedral with the Catholics. [2]

See also

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References

  1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1122 ISBN   978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hiden, J (2004) Defender of minorities: Paul Schiemann, 1876-1944, p92
  3. 1 2 Nohlen & Stöver, p1135