Chamber:
	Saeima
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	30 September 1995 1 October 1995
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats in Parliament on the normal expiry of the members' term of office. General elections had previously been held in June 1993.
Background and outcome of elections:
	In the 1995 poll, the ruling Latvian Way was strongly challenged by two new parties: the Democratic Party (Saimnieks), led by Mr. Ziedonis Cevers, and the People's Movement for Latvia, headed by Mr. Joachim Siegerist. Altogether 19 parties and coalitions fielding a total of 1007 candidates vied for the 100 seats at stake. Campaign issues related, among other things, to unrest following the collapse of Latvia's largest bank and to whether certain individual candidates identified with the old regime should be allowed to run. Furthermore, the centre-left Democratic Party promised to soften the central Government's economic reform program, which had proved painful for many citizens. For its part, the radical right-wing group of the German-born Mr. Siegerist campaigned on a staunchly anti-Russian and anti-communist platform, its other policies being less clear. Polling day - monitored by foreign observers, who pronounced the procedures generally free and fair - results were tight, as the three above-mentioned contenders emerged within one seat of each other and the radical nationalist Fatherland and Freedom Union followed closely in fourth place with 14 seats. A total of nine groups gained Saeima representation and analysts attributed the success of nationalist/populist parties to voter anger with the current state of affairs in the country. The electorate did not include many of the approximately 700,000 residents (some 40% of the population) who had not as yet secured citizenship: a controversial point. Given this outcome and the fact that no party won an outright majority, formation of a Government took several weeks. Finally, on 21 December, the Saeima approved an eight-party coalition led by Prime Minister Andris Skele. The new Cabinet was named the same day.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (30 September 1995): Elections results
Number of registered electors	1,334,436
Voters	(71.9%)

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	%
Democratic Party Saimnieks	15.3
Latvia’s Way	14.7
People’s Movement for Latvia (Siegerist Party)	15.1
Union for the Fatherland and Freedom (TUB)	11.6
Unity Party (SP)	7.2
National Conservative Party (LNNK) and allies	6.2
Farmers’ Union (LZS) and allies	6.1
National Harmony Party (TSP)	5.6
Latvian Socialist Party (LSP)	5.7

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total
Democratic Party Saimnieks	18
Latvia’s Way	17
People’s Movement for Latvia (Siegerist Party)	16
Union for the Fatherland and Freedom (TUB)	14
Unity Party (SP)	8
National Conservative Party (LNNK) and allies	8
Farmers’ Union (LZS) and allies	8
National Harmony Party (TSP)	6
Latvian Socialist Party (LSP)	5

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	92
Women:	8