Latvia

Articles about voting issues in the Republic of Latvia.

Latvians Reject Russian As Second Language | Radio Free Europe

Feb 202012
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Near-complete official results of a Latvian referendum showed that 75 percent of voters had rejected the plan to change the constitution and introduce Russian as an official second language in the country. Official figures show that the turnout was 70 percent, making the February 18 referendum the most popular in Latvian history. The chairman of Latvia’s Central Election Commission, Arnis Cimdars, told RFE/RL that the “turnout was even bigger that during the parliamentary elections, which traditionally have the highest turnout numbers.” Read More »

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Latvia Comments Off Topics: citizenship, referendum

Latvians say “no” in Russian language vote | euronews

Feb 202012
Latvia

Preliminary results on Saturday showed an overwhelming majority of Latvians had voted “no” in a referendum to decide whether Russian should become the country’s second official language. Nearly 80 percent of Latvians voted against proposals introduced by a national movement of Russian speakers. Analysts say the turnout, at nearly 70 percent, indicates the strength of feeling among many ordinary Latvians, who are keen to distance themselves culturally from their former Soviet rulers.  Read More »

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Latvia vote poses question on Russian as EU language | EUobserver.com

Feb 162012
Latvia

A referendum on making Russian an official language in Latvia has raised the dim possibility of it also becoming an official language of the EU. The country’s Central Election Commission (CEC) itself predicts the poll, on 18 February, will be a non-starter. A CEC spokeswoman, Kristine Berzina, told EUobserver on Tuesday (14 February) that “the level for the vote is so high it will never happen.” According to the rules, half of all eligible voters in Latvia – 1.5 million people – must turn out in order to make a quorum, and half of all 1.5 million must vote Yes to get a positive result. Around one third of Latvians are Russian speakers. But in some rural communities the figure is 60 percent. If the bid comes through, it will put pressure on Riga to take steps at EU level. Read More »

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Latvia Comments Off Topics: eligible voters, European Union, referendum

Voting abroad on language issue possible in more places than ever | Latvians Online

Jan 212012

A total of 85 polling stations in 41 countries—the greatest number ever—will be open outside the homeland on Feb. 18 for a national referendum to decide if Russian should become an official language alongside Latvian. The Central Election Commission in Rīga announced the list Jan. 20 after the Constitutional Court decided not to interfere in the referendum, although it will take up a case questioning the legitimacy of parts of Latvia’s initiative and referendum law. Read More »

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Latvia Comments Off Topics: diaspora voting, eligible voters, voting abroad

Latvian Vote on language issue set Feb. 18 | LatviansOnline

Jan 052012

A national referendum on whether Russian should become Latvia’s second official language is set for Feb. 18, the Central Election Commission announced Jan. 3 in Rīga.

The referendum will decide whether proposed legislation to amend the constitution will be adopted. The legislation would change five sections in the constitution, including Paragraph 4, which sets Latvian as the sole official language. At least half of all eligible voters, or nearly 772,000 citizens, would need to vote in favor of the referendum question for it to pass, according to Latvian law. Read More »

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Latvia Comments Off Topics: Central Election Commission, eligible voters, Valdis Dombrovskis

Pro-Russia party gains historic election victory in Latvia, hopes for role in government | The Washington Post

Sep 192011

A left-wing, pro-Russia party captured the most votes in Latvia’s parliamentary elections, marking a milestone for the tiny Baltic nation where parties distrustful of Russia have dominated all national elections since independence 20 years ago. With some 95 percent of ballots counted early Sunday, Harmony Center, a party catering to the country’s ethnic Russian minority, had 29.2 percent of the vote.

Since 1991, when Latvia regained its independence after the breakup of the Soviet Union, no such party had either won an election or been included in a coalition government, a streak that Harmony hopes to change after Saturday’s election. But other parties were already maneuvering to shut Harmony out of any coalition government. Read More »

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Latvia Comments Off Topics: parliamentary election, Valdis Dombrovskis, Valdis Zatlers

Parliamentary vote marked by pluralism and respect for fundamental freedoms, OSCE observers say | ODIHR

Sep 192011
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Yesterday’s early parliamentary elections in Latvia took place in a democratic and pluralistic environment and were marked by the rule of law, respect of fundamental freedoms, and functioning democratic institutions, observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) concluded in a statement issued today.

“This election has been run professionally and voters were provided a genuine choice between parties offering different platforms,” said Konrad Olszewski, the head of the ODIHR limited election observation mission. Read More »

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Latvia Comments Off Topics: election observation, ODIHR, OSCE, voting rights

The oligarchs' exit: Time up for tycoons | The Economist

Sep 142011

Larvia’s elections on September 17 were called as a result of the political upsets in the summer when President Valdis Zatlers tried to confront the grip that he said the country’s three “oligarchs” had on its parliament, the Saeima. Bloomberg has a useful summary of the state of play. It looks as though the parties affiliated with the tycoons may win only 14 of 100 seats, down from 51 five years ago and 30 in 2010.

Aivars Lembergs, mayor of the big port of Ventspils, will probably do best. A poll gives his Greens and Farmers Union 8.5% which will at least get it into parliament. He faces a long-running investigation for bribery, money laundering and abuse of office since 2008 (he vehemently denies all wrongdoing). Ainārs Šlesers, who was at the centre of a controversy that prompted this summer’s crisis, is unlikely to return to parliament. His “For a Better Latvia” is polling less than the 5% threshold. The third “oligarch” Andris Šķēle has dissolved his party.  Read More »

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Latvia Comments Off Topics: Reform Party, Saeima, Valdis Dombrovskis, Valdis Zatlers

OSCE/ODIHR opens limited observation mission for early parliamentary elections | ODIHR

Sep 082011

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights today opened a limited election observation mission to monitor the 17 September early parliamentary elections in Latvia.

The mission, headed by Konrad Olszewski, deployed following an invitation from the Latvian authorities. It comprises nine experts, who will be based in Riga, and six long-term observers, who will be deployed to different regions of the country. The mission will assess the elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Read More »

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Latvia Comments Off Topics: election observation, ODIHR, OSCE

13 parties to vie for 11th Saeima | Latvians Online

Aug 222011

A total of 13 political parties or coalitions will be on the ballot Sept. 17 when Latvian voters go to the polls in the homeland and abroad to elect a new parliament, according to the Central Election Commission in Rīga.

No. 1 in the packet of candidate lists voters will receive will be Vienotība (Unity), a center-right party that merges Jaunais laiks (New Era), Pilsoniskā savienība (Civic Union) and Sabiedrība citai politikai (Society for a Different Politics). Read More »

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Latvia Comments Off Topics: Central Election Commission, Saeima, Valdis Zatlers

Latvia Referendum Dissolves Parliament | Bloomberg

Jul 262011

Latvians may elect a new premier to lead the country’s deficit-cutting government after a weekend referendum dissolved parliament and propelled a new party to the top of opinion polls.

Almost 95 percent of voters on July 23 backed former President Valdis Zatlers’s call to dismiss lawmakers as part of an anti-corruption drive. The wave that swept away parliament drove Zatlers’s Reform Party, founded in June, into a first- place tie with the pro-Russian Harmony Center in opinion polls, followed by Premier Valdis Dombrovskis’s Unity party. Read More »

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Latvia Comments Off Topics: Reform Party, Unity Party, Valdis Dombrovskis, Valdis Zatlers

Latvians back dismissal of parliament in vote | Al Jazeera

Jul 252011
Almost 95 per cent of those who voted support dissolution, following earlier attempt by ex-president to curb corruption.

Latvians have overwhelmingly voted in favour of dissolving parliament in a referendum called to combat the power of oligarch businessmen, early results of the poll showed.

With more than 57 per cent of ballots counted, 94.8 per cent of voters supported the legislature’s dissolution, according to Central Election Commission data released on its website on Saturday.

“Overall voter participation in the referendum was good,” election commission chairman Arnis Cimdars told a news conference. The referendum will lead to a snap election in September. Read More »

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Latvia Comments Off Topics: Arnis Cimdars, Valdis Zatlers, voter turnout

Saulkrasti registers highest turnout as referendum polls close in Latvia | Latvians Online

Jul 252011
Balsošanas iecirknis Rīgā

Voter turnout in Latvia topped 44 percent in the July 23 national referendum on dissolving the Saeima, according to data compiled by the Rīga-based Central Election Commission shortly after polls closed at 10 p.m. local time.
Now the counting begins, but the result will likely be that 100 MPs will be out of a job and will start planning their campaign for the expected September elections.

In all, about 682,000 citizens voted, with turnout especially strong along the Gulf of Rīga, where many people were spending their weekend at a beach. Saulkrasti County, on the gulf’s eastern side, registered turnout that topped 150 percent thanks to voters from outside the district casting ballots there. Read More »

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Latvia Comments Off Topics: voter turnout

Polling stations open in preparation for referendum on Saeima’s dismissal | Latvians Online

Jul 232011

Polling stations in Latvia and abroad began work July 13 in preparation for a referendum that could result in dismissal of the 10th Saeima. The stations—including 78 abroad—will have information about the balloting process available for anyone interested, according to the Central Election Commission in Rīga.

The polling stations are to be open four hours per day from July 13-July 22. Hours are to be set by local election officials. The referendum is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time on July 23. Read More »

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Latvia Comments Off Topics: Valdis Zatlers, voters with disabilities

Latvian political parties undergo major upheaval | The Baltic Times

Jul 202011

Latvian party politics is going through a major upheaval in the lead up to this month’s general referendum on the dissolution of parliament. The political maneuvering of the past few days has resulted in party mergers, liquidations and foundations.

The scramble was launched by the announcement on Saturday by former Latvian President Valdis Zatlers that he would create his own political party to run in the next elections. It will be called the “Reform Party” and will be right-leaning, but specifics of who might join the party are still not clear. Read More »

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Latvia Comments Off Topics: Reform Party, Valdis Zatlers

Referendum on Saeima to have record number of polling stations abroad | Latvians Online

Jun 252011

A record number of polling stations abroad—78 in all—will operate July 23 for Latvian citizens to vote in a referendum that could result in dissolution of the parliament, or Saeima.

The Central Election Commission in Rīga announced June 21 that it has approved a Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposal to operate polling stations in 41 countries outside Latvia. In last October’s parliamentary vote, during which the legislators who may now lose their jobs were elected, 64 polling stations operated abroad.

The increase in polling stations is due to not enough time being available for voters abroad to apply for mail ballots, election commission Chairman Arnis Cimdars said in a press release. Applications for mail ballots are due July 1. Read More »

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Latvia Comments Off Topics: absentee voting, Arnis Cimdars, diaspora voting, Valdis Zatlers

Election commission slates July 23 as date for Saeima referendum | Latvians Online

May 312011

A national referendum on dissolution of the Latvian parliament is set July 23, the Central Election Commission in Rīga has announced. The date was approved May 30 after President Valdis Zatlers on May 28 used his constitutional power to initiate dismissal of the Saeima—the first time any Latvian head of state has done so.

In a nationally broadcast speech, the president reacted to the May 26 failure by the Saeima to back the prosecutor general’s request to allow a search of residences controlled by oligarch and MP Ainārs Šlesers. Zatlers said the decision revealed a split between the legislative and judicial branches of Latvia’s government. Read More »

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