2010 Latvian parliamentary election

September 2023 Parliamentary election held in Latvia 2010 Latvian parliamentary election Latvia no 2006 2 October 2010 2011 Valdis Dombrovskis Unity (Latvia) 18 33 31.90 Jānis Urbanovičs Harmony Centre 17 29 26.61 Aivars Lembergs Union of Greens and Farmers 18 22 20.11 Roberts Zile National Alliance (Latvia) 8 8 7.84 Ainārs Šlesers For a Good Latvia 33 8 7.82 File:Vēlētāju Karte (2010).svg Results by electoral district Prime Minister Prime Minister after Valdis Dombrovskis New Era Party Valdis Dombrovskis Unity (Latvia) Parliamentary elections were held in Latvia on 2 October 2010.http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=56920 https://archive.today/20120918014528/http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=56920 usurped 18 September 2012 Latvian PM fails to build majority government [World Bulletin – Turkey News, World News ] Worldbulletin.net 12 April 2010 4 October 2010 http://electionguide.org/country.php?ID=119 IFES Election Guide – Country Profile: Latvia Electionguide.org 4 October 2010 It was the first parliamentary election to be held in Latvia since the beginning of the 2008 Latvian financial crisis during which Latvia had experienced one of the deepest recessions in the world."Latvians Vote in Election After Economic Crisis", Business Week, 2 October 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101030003631/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-10-02/latvians-vote-in-election-after-economic-crisis.html 30 October 2010 A total of 1,239 candidates representing 13 parties or alliances stood in five electoral constituencies equivalent to the four regions of Latvia and Riga city. With 1012 of 1013 polling stations counted, results showed an increase in support for the incumbent coalition government of Valdis Dombrovskis, with 58% of the vote and 63 of the 100 seats.https://archive.today/20130201060430/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE69200220101003 "Latvia PM wins election, to hold coalition talks" Reuters, 3 October 2010 Background After the 2009 Riga riot, which was due to the effects of the 2008 financial crisis on Latvia, some politicians saw early elections as the only way to confront the people's anger.June 2024 medicmedic The elections were to be averted if the Saeima passed constitutional reform laws, including a law to allow referendums on dissolving parliament, by 31 March 2009;The Earthtimes http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/254221,latvian-prime-minister-wins-crucial-confidence-vote.html Latvian prime minister wins crucial confidence vote | Earth Times News Earthtimes.org 4 February 2009 4 October 2010 25 August 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120825183701/http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/254221,latvian-prime-minister-wins-crucial-confidence-vote.html dead if this had not happened, the President of Latvia, Valdis Zatlers, would have dissolved parliament.http://www.baltic-course.com/eng2/analytics/?doc=8738 If Saeima does not amend Constitution by March 31, Zatlers will propose dissolving parliament The Baltic Course 14 January 2009 4 October 2010 After surviving a vote of no confidence in early February, PM Ivars Godmanis resigned on 20 February 2009 after the two largest parties (People's Party and the Union of Greens and Farmers) called for his dismissal.April 2023 A new government was formed, headed by Valdis Dombrovskis.Dombrovskis chosen as Latvian PM, BBC News, 26 February 2009 There were also discussions that President Zatlers might use the parliamentary dissolution power of Latvian President to call a referendum on holding early elections.http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90853/6597929.html Social, economic woes, political pressure behind Latvian prime minister's resignation – People's Daily Online English.people.com.cn 21 February 2009 4 October 2010 Zatlers stated on 23 February 2009 that early elections might be necessary, and that he was willing to extend the deadline for reforms from 31 March for one week to 7 April 2009 due to the collapse of the government.http://www.pr-inside.com/latvia-s-president-says-snap-election-possible-r1075179.htm Latvia's president says snap election possible Pr-inside.com 4 October 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120229092620/http://www.pr-inside.com/latvia-s-president-says-snap-election-possible-r1075179.htm 29 February 2012 The tasks given to parliament were: pass constitutional amendments to allow the people to dissolve parliament, passing electoral reforms and setting up an economic supervisory council for the recovery plan and international loans. The tasks given to the government were: coming up with a recovery plan and implementing it, appointing a new head for the Corruption Prevention Board, and reorganising the government and public administration.http://www.baltic-course.com/eng2/analytics/?doc=10796 President of Latvia hopes that his tasks will be accomplished The Baltic Course 20 September 2010 4 October 2010 Zatlers stated he would hold talks with politicians from all parties on 31 March 2009 and announce his assessment of the situation on the same day.http://www.baltic-course.com/eng2/legislation/?doc=11812 Zatlers waiting for accomplishment evaluations from the Government till March 31 The Baltic Course 27 March 2009 4 October 2010 On 31 March 2009, Zatlers announced he would not dissolve parliament. The Saeima was to consider constitutional amendments as early as 9 April 2009.Kate McIntosh http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/22617/ Zatlers not to dissolve parliament The Baltic Times 1 April 2009 4 October 2010http://www.easybourse.com/bourse-actualite/marches/latvian-president-drops-threat-to-call-snap-vote-amid-643843 International – News sur Easy Bourse Easybourse.com 30 September 2010 4 October 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090406190215/http://www.easybourse.com/bourse-actualite/marches/latvian-president-drops-threat-to-call-snap-vote-amid-643843 6 April 2009 Changes to the electoral law Several changes to the election law took effect for this election.http://www.kasjauns.lv/lv/news/velesanu-lokomotives-nonemtas-no-trases%26news_id%3D23768 "Vēlēšanu lokomotīves noņemtas no trases", Kas Jauns, 2 July 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20120306183859/http://www.kasjauns.lv/lv/news/velesanu-lokomotives-nonemtas-no-trases%26news_id%3D23768 6 March 2012 dead 11 April 2019 The so-called "locomotive law" (lv lokomotīvju likuma) meant that candidates were restricted to standing in one constituency. In addition to completing registration forms in paper format, for the first time, parties also had to register electronically. Voting hours were shortened, with polling stations closing two hours earlier at 8 pm instead of 10 pm. Finally laws relating to election spending were tightened, in particular, laws against third party advertising on behalf of political parties were strengthened. Contesting parties There are thirteen parties and electoral alliances running:http://web.cvk.lv/pub/public/28361.html The 10th Saeima elections Web.cvk.lv 30 September 2010 4 October 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101019073218/http://web.cvk.lv/pub/public/28361.html 19 October 2010 dead FHRUL (For Human Rights in United Latvia) (PCTVL – Par cilvēka tiesībām vienotā Latvijā) Unity (Vienotība): comprising the New Era Party, Civic Union and Society for Other Politics Made in Latvia (Ražots Latvijā) Association of political parties 'Harmony Centre' (Politisko partiju apvienība 'Saskaņas Centrs'): formed by the Social Democratic Party "Harmony", Socialist Party of Latvia and the Daugavpils City Party People's Control (Tautas kontrole) Union of Greens and Farmers (Zaļo un Zemnieku savienība): consisting of the Latvian Farmers' Union and the Green Party of Latvia For Presidential Republic (Par prezidentālu republiku) For a Good Latvia (Par labu Latviju): of the People's Party, Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way and For a Good Latvia RESPONSIBILITY – Social Democratic Association of Political Parties (ATBILDĪBA – sociāldemokrātiska politisko partiju apvienība) Party 'Daugava - For Latvia' (Partija 'Daugava – Latvijai') The Last Party (Pēdējā partija) National Alliance 'All for Latvia!' – 'For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK' (Nacionālā apvienība 'Visu Latvijai' – 'Tēvzemei un Brīvībai/LNNK'): consisting of For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK and All for Latvia!http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/26517/ Lembergs brings 'experience' to Green Party ticket The Baltic Times 7 July 2010 4 October 2010 Christian Democratic Union (Kristīgi demokrātiskā savienība) New electoral alliances established In the run-up to the election, three right-wing parties (New Era Party, Civic Union and Society for Other Politics) established an alliance called Unity on 6 March 2010. Furthermore, most of the parties constituting the Harmony Centre alliance (National Harmony Party, New Centre and Social Democratic Party – but not the Socialist Party of Latvia and the Daugavpils City Party) had merged into the Social Democratic Party "Harmony" on 10 February 2010.https://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saskanascentrs.lv%2Flv%2Fnews%2F922&sl=lv&tl=en Google Translate 4 October 2010 On 22 April 2010, the People's Party and the Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way formed an electoral alliance (including the newly founded businessmen's movement For a Good Latvia) called For a Good Latvia.Greenhalgh Nathan http://balticreports.com/?p=15530 People's Party, LPP/LC join balticreports.com 22 April 2010 4 October 2010 9 October 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111009133728/http://balticreports.com/?p=15530 dead https://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zz.lv%2Fportals%2Fvietejas%2Fraksts.html%3Fxml_id%3D22168&sl=lv&tl=en Google Translate 4 October 2010 When Unity declined to include For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK and the populist radical right All for Latvia! in their alliance on 28 May 2010Greenhalgh Nathan https://balticreports.com/2010/05/31/unity-forgoes-merging-with-tblnnk-visu-latvijai/ Unity forgoes merging with far-right 31 May 2010 Baltic Reports 24 May 2011 the two parties formed an electoral alliance instead.Kalniete Sandra Sandra Kalniete https://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/european-issues/193-the-latvian-parliament-after-the-election The Latvian Parliament after the Election 7 February 2011 Fondation Robert Schuman 24 May 2011 Pre-election debates Numerous televised debates took place prior to the election. These involved either the party leaders or other senior party figures. In all, seven debates took place on the LNT Channel, five of these were held on a regional basis and all involved parties which were polling 2% or above in opinion polls."Arī LNT sola vērienīgi atspoguļot Saeimas vēlēšanas", delfi.lv, 16 August 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2010. A total of eleven debates took place on the LTV Channel, five of which were held on a regional basis, with one debate between the Prime Ministerial candidates and a further five held on the basis of five themes: Finance, Prosperity, Health, Economy and Development, and Education and Culture. Like the LNT debates, these involved parties which opinion polls indicated would poll 2% or more. A twelfth debate was held on LTV between the remaining seven parties or electoral lists which were not expected to poll 2%. The two debates held on the PBK Channel involved the four parties which the opinion polls indicated would poll 5% or more. However outgoing Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis refused to take part in the debate, following controversy over previous remarks made by the debate's moderator Aleksandr Gordon. Unity decided not to send a replacement and were absent from the debate.http://diena.lv/lat/politics/hot/dombrovskis-nepiedalisies-pbk-prieksvelesanu-debates Diena, 29 September 2010 2 October 2010 1 October 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101001094316/http://diena.lv/lat/politics/hot/dombrovskis-nepiedalisies-pbk-prieksvelesanu-debates dead Opinion polls Pre-election polls had indicated that the outgoing government could be re-elected however they had also pointed to the possibility of one of the main opposition parties, Harmony Centre, making gains and becoming the largest party in the Saeima.Financial Times, 2 October 2010 According to a pollhttp://www.kasjauns.lv/lv/news/popularakas-partijas-saskanas-centrs-vienotiba-un-zzs&news_id=23813 Populārākās partijas: "Saskaņas centrs", "Vienotība" un ZZS lv 30 August 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100908110835/http://www.kasjauns.lv/lv/news/popularakas-partijas-saskanas-centrs-vienotiba-un-zzs%26news_id%3D23813 8 September 2010 dead conducted in June by Latvijas fakti, Harmony Centre would get 18.5% of the vote; Unity, 16.2%; Union of Greens and Farmers, 11.3%; For a Good Latvia, 5.3% and National Alliance, 4.4%. A later Latvijas Fakti poll conducted between 25 and 27 September 2010 showed 21.2% support for Harmony Centre, 19.2% for Unity, 9.9% for Greens and Farmers and For Fatherland and Freedom on 5.2%. For a Good Latvia, led by members of the previous government, was at 7.8%. About 19 percent of the 1,004 respondents were undecided. The margin of error was 3.2 percent."Latvian Election May Keep Dombrovskis in Power as Russians Gain", Business Week, 30 September 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20110416185330/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-09-30/latvian-election-may-keep-dombrovskis-in-power-as-russians-gain.html 16 April 2011 Conduct OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission provided, among others, the following recommendations: allowing independent candidates to stand in elections; giving consideration to granting “non-citizens” of Latvia the right to vote in municipal elections; issuing voter education materials in minority languages, enabling use of minority languages when dealing with election authorities; stronger sanctions for campaign violations; reviewing candidacy restrictions based on lustration provisions with a view to bringing them to an early end.Republic of Latvia parliamentary elections 2 October 2010. OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission Final Report, 2007 — p. 18-19 Results File:Lettonie Saeima 2010.svg Unity 301429 33 +15 Harmony Centre 251400 29 +12 Union of Greens and Farmers 190025 22 +4 National Alliance 74029 8 0 For a Good Latvia 73881 8 –25 For Human Rights in United Latvia 13847 0 –6 Made in Latvia 9380 0 New Last Party (Latvia) lv Pēdējā partija Last Party 8458 0 New For a Presidential Republic lv Par prezidentālu republiku 7102 0 New Responsibility – Social Democratic Alliance of Political Parties 6139 0 New People's Control 4002 0 New Christian Democratic Union  3488 0 New Heritage of the Fatherland lv Tēvzemes mantojums Daugava – For Latvia 1661 0 New Daugava – For Latvia 0 20697 1532319 CVL, CVK, CVK List of elected Deputies NameAlliance/partyPartyConstituencyDate of birth/deathVotesAigars ŠtokenbergsVIENOTĪBASCPZemgale1963/08/2910,335Aija BarčaZZSLPKurzeme1949/10/264,969Ainars LatkovskisVIENOTĪBAJLVidzeme1967/12/2311,764Ainārs ŠlesersPLLLPP/LCRīga1970/01/2214,532Aivars DronkaZZSLZSZemgale19631,720Aleksandrs JakimovsSCSLatgale1961/10/016,107Aleksandrs SakovskisSCSVidzeme1965/03/112,975Aleksejs BurunovsSCDPPLatgale1950/06/287,602Aleksejs HolostovsSCSRīga1979/07/236,207Aleksejs LoskutovsVIENOTĪBASCPLatgale1962/08/228,643Andrejs KlementjevsSCSRīga1973/09/0719,251Andris Alberts BuiķisVIENOTĪBAJLRīga1939/03/15-2022/10/0611,515Andris BērziņšZZSINDZemgale1944/12/104,751Andris BērziņšZZSLZSVidzeme1955/11/263,798Andris ŠķēlePLLTPZemgale1958/01/164,087Andris VilksVIENOTĪBAPSVidzeme1963/06/15-2024/04/287,054Armands KrauzeZZSLZSVidzeme1970/06/102,199Artis KamparsVIENOTĪBAJLZemgale1967/05/0310,505Artis PabriksVIENOTĪBASCPVidzeme1966/03/2230,182Artūrs RubiksSCSLPRīga1970/08/1613,128Arvils AšeradensVIENOTĪBAPSVidzeme1962/12/306,394Atis LejiņšVIENOTĪBALSDSPZemgale1942/09/289,407Augusts BrigmanisZZSLZSZemgale1952/07/197,607Boriss CilevičsSCSRīga1956/03/2617,012Dace ReinikaZZSLZSZemgale1958/09/233,159Dana ReiznieceZZSLuVKurzeme1981/11/062,966Dmitrijs RodionovsSCSLatgale1980/09/075,088Dzintars ĀbiķisVIENOTĪBASCPVidzeme1952/06/0311,016Dzintars RasnačsNATB/LNNKRīga1963/07/175,167Dzintars ZaķisVIENOTĪBAJLZemgale1970/05/268,517Dzintra HiršaVIENOTĪBAPSVidzeme1947/03/314,868Edgars ZalānsPLLTPKurzeme1967/09/032,861Edvards SmiltēnsVIENOTĪBASCPVidzeme1984/09/186,000Einārs CilinskisNAVL!Rīga1963/08/283,566Gaidis BērziņšNATB/LNNKKurzeme1970/10/202,197Ģirts Valdis KristovskisVIENOTĪBAPSRīga1962/02/1926,006Gundars DaudzeZZSLuVKurzeme1965/05/099,052Guntars GalvanovskisVIENOTĪBAJLVidzeme1982/05/154,883Guntis UlmanisPLLINDVidzeme1939/09/134,228Igors MeļņikovsSCSRīga1969/06/266,791Igors PimenovsSCSRīga1953/01/317,327Igors ZujevsSCSLPRīga1963/01/316,042Ilma ČepāneVIENOTĪBAPSVidzeme1947/04/2925,764Ilze ViņķeleVIENOTĪBAPSRīga1971/11/277,339Imants Jānis BekešsPLLTPLatgale1955/08/162,664Imants ParādnieksNAVL!Zemgale1968/08/274,155Imants Viesturs LieģisVIENOTĪBAPSRīga1955/04/308,363Ina DruvieteVIENOTĪBAPSVidzeme1958/05/2914,419Inese LaizāneNAVL!Latgale1971/08/15-2024/09/04651Inese ŠleserePLLLPP/LCRīga1972/08/023,672Ingmārs ČaklaisVIENOTĪBAPSVidzeme1971/04/276,070Ingmārs LīdakaZZSLZPVidzeme1966/08/1317,524Ingrīda CirceneVIENOTĪBAJLKurzeme1956/12/066,740Inguna RībenaVIENOTĪBAJLRīga1956/07/2411,477Ints DālderisVIENOTĪBAJLRīga1971/02/109,680Ivans KlementjevsSCSVidzeme1960/11/188,915Ivans RibakovsSCSLatgale1960/06/2913,985Iveta GriguleZZSLZPVidzeme1964/09/304,070Janīna Kursīte-PakuleVIENOTĪBAPSKurzeme1952/03/026,661Jānis ĀdamsonsSCSVidzeme1956/11/037,689Jānis DombravaNAVL!Vidzeme1988/06/292,151Jānis DūklavsZZSLZSVidzeme1952/11/2413,730Jānis KlaužZZSINDLatgale1953/05/063,133Jānis StrazdiņšZZSLZSRīga1941/09/292,507Jānis TutinsSCSLatgale1966/06/2312,784Jānis UrbanovičsSCSRīga1959/03/2359,118Jānis VucānsZZSLuVKurzeme1956/02/092,936Juris SilovsSCSVidzeme1965/10/263,275Kārlis ŠadurskisVIENOTĪBAPSLatgale1959/10/113,712Kārlis SeržantsZZSLZPRīga1959/11/124,811Klāvs OlšteinsVIENOTĪBAJLZemgale1983/04/124,453Lolita ČigāneVIENOTĪBAPSRīga1973/08/1815,092Māris KučinskisPLLTPVidzeme1961/11/282,744Mihails ZemļinskisSCSRīga1969/12/217,314Ņikita ŅikiforovsSCSRīga1983/09/086,129Nikolajs KabanovsSCSRīga1970/09/2612,400Ojārs Ēriks KalniņšVIENOTĪBAPSRīga1949/10/22-2021/10/1410,694Oskars ZīdsZZSLPKurzeme1948/07/282,781Raimonds RubiksSCSLPLatgale1963/06/098,086Raimonds VējonisZZSLZPRīga1966/09/156,376Raivis DzintarsNAVL!Vidzeme1982/11/2515,852Rasma KārkliņaVIENOTĪBAPSRīga1946/06/077,541Rihards EigimsZZSINDLatgale1962/05/013,465Rita StrodePLLLPP/LCLatgale1955/07/264,958Sarmīte ĒlerteVIENOTĪBAPSZemgale1957/04/0812,535Sergejs DolgopolovsSCSRīga1941/09/0322,588Sergejs FjodorovsSCSLPLatgale1956/05/305,789Sergejs MirskisSCSRīga1952/01/0111,869Silva BendrāteVIENOTĪBAJLKurzeme1956/02/294,241Solvita ĀboltiņaVIENOTĪBAJLKurzeme1963/02/1911,758Staņislavs ŠķestersZZSLZSLatgale1958/12/173,626Uldis AugulisZZSLZSZemgale1972/03/163,554Valdis DombrovskisVIENOTĪBAJLVidzeme1971/08/0577,168Valentīns GrigorjevsSCSZemgale19462,610Valērijs AgešinsSCSKurzeme1972/06/237,836Valērijs KravcovsSCSKurzeme1961/10/143,003Visvaldis Bruno LācisNAVL!Vidzeme1924/03/12-2020/04/187,699Vitālijs OrlovsSCSZemgale1964/05/305,424Vitauts StaņaZZSLZSVidzeme1955/06/092,737Vladimirs NikonovsSCSLatgale1955/04/047,224Source: Overall results - Centrālā vēlēšanu komisija - CVK Aftermath Though the result made a variety of coalition options possible,Diena, p4-5, 4 October 2010 including a coalition government formed by Harmony Centre and The Union of Greens and Farmers, Dombrovskis said that Unity and the Greens and Farmers had agreed to continue working together and form a government, to be approved by parliament on 2 November.Latvian PM, coalition partner agree to stay in govt, Reuters, 3 October 2010 For Fatherland and Freedom was also expected to be part of the government. However Dombrovskis also said that he was seeking a cooperation deal with Harmony Centre in a bid to win additional support for further budget cuts. "We offer an opportunity to sign a cooperation agreement with Harmony Center, to agree on cooperation in parliament, maybe, also delegating a minister."Latvia PM woos opposition, budget fight seen ahead, Reuters, 4 October 2010 References Latvia Category:Parliamentary elections in Latvia Parliamentary Category:October 2010 elections Category:October 2010 in Europe