Latvian parliamentary dissolution referendum, 2011
Encyclopedia
A referendum on whether the Saeima
should be dissolved early was held in Latvia
on 23 July 2011. President Valdis Zatlers
used his parliamentary dissolution power
for the first time in the history of Latvia. A "yes/no" vote was held and the referendum passed with 94.3% support.
called the referendum under the power given to him by the constitution
on 28 May 2011. Zatlers called the referendum in response to the Saeima
's refusal to sanction a search at the home of MP Ainārs Šlesers
, leader of Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way and a former cabinet minister. According to the current legal procedure, the referendum on the Saeima's dissolution had to take place no later than two months after the President's decree.
The Constitution of Latvia
foresaw that if the people had not supported Zatlers' decision, he would have had to resign from the presidency. This could have created a judicial conundrum, however, since Zatlers' current term expired on 7 July and the Saeima held a presidential election
(in which Zatlers was also a candidate) on 2 June. As Zatlers was not reelected, however, this conundrum was avoided.
Saeima
Saeima is the parliament of the Republic of Latvia. It is a unicameral parliament consisting of 100 members who are elected by proportional representation, with seats allocated to political parties which gain at least 5% of the popular vote. Elections are scheduled to be held once every four years,...
should be dissolved early was held in Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
on 23 July 2011. President Valdis Zatlers
Valdis Zatlers
Valdis Zatlers is a Latvian politician and former physician who served as the seventh president of Latvia from 2007 to 2011. He won the Latvian presidential election of 31 May 2007...
used his parliamentary dissolution power
Parliamentary dissolution power of Latvian President
The Constitution of Latvia, ratified on February 15, 1922, contains a provision regarding one of the reserve powers of the President of Latvia to initiate the dissolution of the parliament. According to Article 48-50 of the Constitution,...
for the first time in the history of Latvia. A "yes/no" vote was held and the referendum passed with 94.3% support.
Background
President Valdis ZatlersValdis Zatlers
Valdis Zatlers is a Latvian politician and former physician who served as the seventh president of Latvia from 2007 to 2011. He won the Latvian presidential election of 31 May 2007...
called the referendum under the power given to him by the constitution
Parliamentary dissolution power of Latvian President
The Constitution of Latvia, ratified on February 15, 1922, contains a provision regarding one of the reserve powers of the President of Latvia to initiate the dissolution of the parliament. According to Article 48-50 of the Constitution,...
on 28 May 2011. Zatlers called the referendum in response to the Saeima
Saeima
Saeima is the parliament of the Republic of Latvia. It is a unicameral parliament consisting of 100 members who are elected by proportional representation, with seats allocated to political parties which gain at least 5% of the popular vote. Elections are scheduled to be held once every four years,...
's refusal to sanction a search at the home of MP Ainārs Šlesers
Ainārs Šlesers
Ainārs Šlesers is a Latvian politician. He is a member of the LPP/LC and a deputy of the 9th Saeima .-External links:*...
, leader of Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way and a former cabinet minister. According to the current legal procedure, the referendum on the Saeima's dissolution had to take place no later than two months after the President's decree.
The Constitution of Latvia
Constitution of Latvia
The Constitution of Latvia is the fundamental law of the Republic of Latvia. It was adopted by, as it states itself, the people of Latvia, in a freely elected Constitutional Assembly, on 15 February 1922 and came into force on 7 November 1922. It was influenced by ideas of the Weimar Constitution...
foresaw that if the people had not supported Zatlers' decision, he would have had to resign from the presidency. This could have created a judicial conundrum, however, since Zatlers' current term expired on 7 July and the Saeima held a presidential election
Latvian presidential election, 2011
Indirect presidential elections were held in Latvia on 2 June 2011. Incumbent president Valdis Zatlers was standing again, as well as Andris Bērziņš , a former head of SEB Unibanka ; Bērziņš was nominated by five Saeima members of the Union of Greens...
(in which Zatlers was also a candidate) on 2 June. As Zatlers was not reelected, however, this conundrum was avoided.