This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Latvia |
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Foreign relations |
Parliamentary elections were held in Latvia on 7 October 2006. [1] The governing coalition, led by Prime Minister Aigars Kalvītis and his People's Party, won the election. Kalvitis's government thus became the first to be re-elected since Latvia had regained independence in 1991. [2]
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.
The Prime Minister of Latvia is the most powerful member of the Government of Latvia, and presides over the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers. The Prime Minister is nominated by the President of Latvia, but must be able to obtain the support of a majority of the Saeima (parliament).
Aigars Kalvītis is a Latvian politician, former Prime Minister of Latvia and current Chairman of the Board of Latvijas Balzams. Since August 2015, he is CEO of the Latvian gas company Latvijas Gāze.
Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
---|---|---|---|---|
People's Party | 177,481 | 19.7 | 23 | +3 |
Union of Greens and Farmers | 151,595 | 16.8 | 18 | +6 |
New Era Party | 148,602 | 16.5 | 18 | –8 |
Harmony Centre | 130,887 | 14.5 | 17 | New |
Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way | 77,869 | 8.6 | 10 | 0 |
For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK | 62,989 | 7.0 | 8 | +1 |
For Human Rights in United Latvia | 54,684 | 6.1 | 6 | –19 |
Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party | 31,728 | 3.5 | 0 | 0 |
Motherland | 18,860 | 2.1 | 0 | New |
All For Latvia! | 13,469 | 1.5 | 0 | New |
New Democrats | 11,505 | 1.3 | 0 | New |
Pensioners and Seniors Party | 7,175 | 0.8 | 0 | New |
Mara's Land | 4,400 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
Euroskeptic Party | 3,365 | 0.4 | 0 | New |
Our Land Party | 2,065 | 0.2 | 0 | New |
Social Fairness Party | 1,575 | 0.2 | 0 | New |
National Power Union | 1,172 | 0.1 | 0 | New |
Latvian's Latvia National Political Defence Organisation | 1,130 | 0.1 | 0 | New |
Fatherland Union | 1,114 | 0.1 | 0 | New |
Invalid/blank votes | 7,311 | – | – | – |
Total | 908,976 | 100 | 100 | 0 |
Registered voters/turnout | 1,490,636 | 61.0 | – | – |
Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
The OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission found that "despite the ongoing naturalization process, the fact that a significant percentage of the adult population of Latvia does not enjoy voting rights represents a continuing democratic deficit". Its recommendations included:
Non-citizens in Latvian law are individuals who are not citizens of Latvia or any other country, but who, in accordance with the Latvian law "Regarding the status of citizens of the former USSR who possess neither Latvian nor other citizenship", have the right to a non-citizen passport issued by the Latvian government as well as other specific rights. Approximately two thirds of them are ethnic Russians, followed by Belarusians, Ukrainians, Poles, and Lithuanians.
MP J. Boldāns, elected from TB/LNNK, was sentenced by Latgale Regional Court to imprisonment for election fraud. J. Boldāns has appealed. [4]
A member of "Harmony centre" J. Klementjevs and three employees of his enterprise were fined for buying votes by Zemgale Regional Court. [5]
The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) found that The People's Party, LPP/LC, Harmony Centre, New Era and UGF had exceeded spending limits. [6]
The governing coalition of the People's Party, the Union of Greens and Farmers, the New Era Party and Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way received strong support from the voters, with 69 of the 100 MPs. Although this coalition could have continued, a new governing coalition was formed by the People's Party, the Union of Greens and Farmers, Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way and For Fatherland and Freedom, ejecting the New Era Party from government.
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Union of Greens and Farmers is a green conservative, agrarian political alliance in Latvia. It consists of two political parties: the Latvian Farmers' Union (LZS) and the Latvian Green Party (LZP). It is the third largest bloc in the Saeima. The Union of Greens and Farmers also cooperates closely with two regional parties: For Latvia and Ventspils and the Liepāja Party.
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