| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Saeima / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
4 October 2014 |
| Purpose of elections |
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. |
Date of previous elections: 17 September 2011
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 4 November 2014
Timing of election: Early elections*
*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.
Expected date of next elections: October 2018
Number of seats at stake: 100 (full renewal)
Number of candidates: 1,156 (775 men, 381 women)
Percentage of women candidates: 33%
Number of parties contesting the election: 13
Number of parties winning seats: 6
Alternation of power: N/A*
*The composition of the coalition government had changed before the 2014 elections.
Number of parties in government: 3
Names of parties in government: Unity (VIENOTIBA), the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) and the National Alliance of "All for Latvia!" - "For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK" (NA)
Date of the first session of the new parliament: 4 November 2014
Name of the new Speaker: Ms. Inara Murniece (National Alliance of "All for Latvia!" - "For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK" (NA)) |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 4 October 2014 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
1'552'235
913'491 (58.85%)
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
|
|
| Social Democratic Party "Harmony" (SDPS) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Unity (VIENOTIBA) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Union of Farmers and Greens (ZZS) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| National Alliance of "All for Latvia!" - "For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK" (NA) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Regional Alliance of Latvia (LRA) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Latvia from the Heart (No sirds Latvijai) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
|
|
|
|
| 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
91
19
19.00%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
Sources:
Parliament (24.10.2014, 03.12.2014, 01.01.2017)
http://cvk.lv
Note on distribution of seats according to sex:
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.
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
