Latvian parliamentary election, 2011

Latvian parliamentary election, 2011
Latvia
17 September 2011
All 100 seats in the Saeima
51 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Nils Ušakovs Valdis Zatlers Valdis Dombrovskis
Party Harmony Centre Reform Unity
Leader since 27 November 2005 23 July 2011 12 March 2009
Last election 26.61% Did not contest 31.90%
Seats before 29 0 33
Seats won 31 22 20
Seat change Increase2 Increase22 Decrease13
Popular vote 259,930 190,853 172,567
Percentage 28.36% 20.82% 18.83%
Swing Increase1.75% Increase20.82% Decrease13.07%
  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Leader Raivis Dzintars Raimonds Vējonis
Party National Alliance Union of Greens and Farmers
Leader since 23 July 2011
Last election 7.84% 20.11%
Seats before 8 22
Seats won 14 13
Seat change Increase6 Decrease9
Popular vote 127,208 111,955
Percentage 13.88% 12.22%
Swing Increase6.05% Decrease7.90%
Prime Minister before election

Valdis Dombrovskis
Unity

 Prime Minister

Valdis Dombrovskis
Unity

An early parliamentary election was held in Latvia on 17 September 2011,[1] following the country's first parliamentary dissolution referendum held on 23 July 2011. The last parliamentary election was held only in October 2010.

The election resulted in Harmony Centre winning the most seats, up two to 31. This was the first time a pro-Russian party had won the most seats in a Latvian election. Unity, previously the largest party, fell to third, with 20 seats, behind the newly formed Zatlers' Reform Party, led by ex-President Valdis Zatlers, who had triggered the dissolution referendum in May. The right-wing National Alliance gained six seats to 14. Both the Union of Greens and Farmers and Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way lost heavily, with the latter falling out of the Saeima altogether.

Zatlers and incumbent Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis soon agreed to form a coalition. Needing nine further seats to give them a majority allowed three possible coalitions – with Harmony Centre, the National Alliance, or the Union of Greens and Farmers. The Greens and Farmers were quickly ruled out by Zatlers, who judged it to be an "oligarch's party". After initial talks with the National Alliance, the two briefly discussed a grand coalition with Harmony Centre. However, Zatlers and Unity returned to the National Alliance, and the three signed a coalition agreement on 11 October, with Dombrovskis as Prime Minister. The new government was confirmed by the Saeima on 25 October. A few days before the government formation, six MPs split from Zatlers' Reform Party; they still supported the new government, however.[2]

Background

Prior to the election, a number of changes in Latvia's party system occurred:

Results

The Harmony Centre party, led by Nils Ušakovs, finished with about 29% of the vote, followed by Zatlers' Reform Party with 21% and the Unity party with 18%.[7] The National Alliance and the Union of Greens and Farmers were the only other parties to enter Parliament, with fourteen and twelve percent of the vote, respectively.[7] Harmony Centre's victory was the first for a pro-Russian party since Latvia's independence; the party has ties to United Russia.[8]

 Summary of the 17 September 2011 Latvian Saeima election results
Party Votes % Swing Seats ±
Harmony Centre 259,930 28.36% +1.75% 31 +2
Zatlers' Reform Party 190,853 20.82% New 22 New
Unity 172,567 18.83% −13.07% 20 −13
National Alliance 127,208 13.88% +6.05% 14 +6
Union of Greens and Farmers 111,955 12.22% –7.90% 13 –9
Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way 22,131 2.41% –5.40% 0 –8
For Human Rights in United Latvia 7,109 0.78% –0.69% 0 ±0
Last Party 4,471 0.49% –0.41% 0 ±0
For a Presidential Republic 2,881 0.31% –0.44% 0 ±0
People's Control 2,573 0.28% –0.14% 0 ±0
Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party 2,531 0.28% –0.37% 0 ±0
Freedom. Free from Fear, Hate and Anger 2,011 0.22% New 0 New
Christian Democratic Union 1,994 0.22% –0.15% 0 ±0
Invalid 1,211
Total 917,680 100% 100
Turnout: 59.49%
Source: Central Election Commission of Latvia

Government formation

Despite winning the most seats, Harmony Centre, was unable to come to an agreement to form a coalition that would hold a majority in parliament immediately after the election.[7] Usakovs entered talks with Zatlers Reform Party and Unity following the election with the aim of forming a coalition,[8] though political analysts said that a potential stumbling block in the talks could be the opposition of other parties to Harmony Centre's connection to Latvia's Russian-speaking population.[7] The most likely potential coalition was predicted to be Zatlers' Reform Party, Unity and National Alliance.[9] Valdis Dombrovskis was believed to remain Prime Minister, despite his party finishing behind the Reform Party.

Zatlers stated on 1 October 2011 that he preferred a coalition with Dombrovskis as PM and including Harmony Centre.[10] However, on 10 October 2011, reports indicated a coalition with the National Alliance was all but certain.[11]Eventually a Unity-Reform Party-National Alliance coalition was formed.

References

  1. ↑ "Latvians sack parliament, head to early elections". EurActiv. 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
  2. ↑ Eglitis, Aaron (2011-10-25). "Latvian Parliament Confirms New Government Led By Dombrovskis". Businessweek. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
  3. ↑ DELFI. "Daugavpils partija iekļaujas 'Saskaņā'; SC veidos divi spēki - DELFI". Delfi.lv. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
  4. ↑ Nolemj likvidēt Tautas partiju (Latvian)
  5. 1 2 "Latvian political parties undergo major upheaval", Baltic Times, 12 July 2011, retrieved 18 July 2011
  6. ↑ Apollo – Ziņas: Izveidota partija «Vienotība». Apollo.lv. Retrieved on 19 September 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Pro-Russia party wins most votes in Latvia election". BBC News Online. 18 September 2011. Archived from the original on 19 September 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  8. 1 2 "Pro-Russia party may take power in Latvia if it can form coalition". The Guardian. 19 September 2011. Archived from the original on 19 September 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  9. ↑ Maktlösa vinnare i Lettland. Dagens Nyheter. 2011-09-18.
  10. ↑ Andris Straumanis. "Zatlers wants Dombrovskis as PM in coalition with Unity, Harmony Centre". Latviansonline.com. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
  11. ↑ derStandard.at. "Rechtsregierung mit Ultranationalisten so gut wie sicher - Lettland - derStandard.at › International" (in German). Derstandard.at. Retrieved 2013-12-24.

External links

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