Parliamentary elections were held in Latvia on 2 October 2010.[1][2] It was the first parliamentary election to be held in Latvia since the beginning of the economic crisis during which Latvia had experienced one of the deepest recessions in the world.[3]
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.[4]
Background
It appeared that early elections would be held in early 2009, when the government was faced with violent protests over the effects of the global financial crisis of 2008–2009 on Latvia and some politicians saw early elections as the only way to confront the people's anger.[5] 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;[6] if this had not happened, the President of Latvia, Valdis Zatlers, would have dissolved parliament.[7]
After surviving a vote of no confidence in early February, PMIvars 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.[citation needed] A new government was formed, headed by Valdis Dombrovskis.[8] There were also discussions that President Zatlers might use the parliamentary dissolution power of Latvian President to call a referendum on holding early elections.[9] 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.[10]
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.[11] 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.[12]
On 31 March 2009, Zatlers announced he would not dissolve parliament. The Saeima was to consider constitutional amendments as early as 9 April 2009.[13][14]
Changes to the electoral law
Several changes to the election law took effect for this election.[15] The so-called "locomotive law" (Latvian: lokomotīvju likuma) meant that candidates were restricted to standing in one constituency.[15] In addition to completing registration forms in paper format, for the first time, parties also had to register electronically.[15] Voting hours were shortened, with polling stations closing two hours earlier at 8 pm instead of 10 pm.[15] Finally laws relating to election spending were tightened, in particular, laws against third party advertising on behalf of political parties were strengthened.[15]
Contesting parties
There are thirteen parties and electoral alliances running:[16]
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.[23] 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.[24]
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.[25]
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.[27]
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.[28]
Though the result made a variety of coalition options possible,[29] including a coalition government formed by Harmony Centre and The Union of Greens and Farmers,[29] 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.[30] For Fatherland and Freedom was also expected to be part of the government.[30] 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."[31]
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