List of political parties in Latvia
Encyclopedia
This is a list of political parties
in Latvia
. Latvia has a multi-party system, where no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other to form coalition government
s.
or the European Parliament
.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
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...
. Latvia has a multi-party system, where no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other to form coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
s.
Major parties
Parties represented in the SaeimaSaeima
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,...
or the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
.
| Name | Abbr. | Leader | Ideology | MPs 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,... |
MEPs European Parliament election, 2009 (Latvia) The European Parliament election of 2009 in Latvia involved the election of the delegation from Latvia to the European Parliament in 2009. 17 lists containing a total of 185 candidates were registered for the election.... |
Notes | |
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| Harmony Centre Harmony Centre Harmony Centre is a political alliance in Latvia. It was formed in 2005 and its member parties are the Social Democratic Party "Harmony" and the Socialist Party of Latvia Harmony Centre (abbreviated SC; ) is a political alliance in Latvia. It was formed in 2005 and its member parties are the... Saskaņas Centrs |
SC | Nils Ušakovs Nils Ušakovs Nils Ušakovs or Nil Ushakov is a Latvian journalist and politician. Since November 2005, he is the leader of the social democratic party alliance, Harmony Centre, which enjoys the support of Latvia's large ethnic Russian population. He was elected as a Member of the 9th Saeima in 2006... |
31 | 2 | |
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| Unity Unity (Latvia) Unity is a Latvian centre-right political party, founded as an electoral alliance of the New Era Party, the Civic Union and the Society for Other Politics on 6 March 2010... Vienotība |
V | Solvita Āboltiņa Solvita Āboltiņa Solvita Āboltiņa is a Latvian politician. She is a member of the New Era Party and a deputy of the 9th Saeima . She began her current term in parliament on November 7, 2006, and has been speaker since 2010.... |
Centre-right Centre-right The centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist... : Liberal conservatism Liberal conservatism Liberal conservatism also known as progressive conservatism is a variant of political conservatism which incorporates liberal elements. As "conservatism" and "liberalism" have had different meanings over time and across countries, the term "liberal conservatism" has been used in quite different... , social liberalism Social liberalism Social liberalism is the belief that liberalism should include social justice. It differs from classical liberalism in that it believes the legitimate role of the state includes addressing economic and social issues such as unemployment, health care, and education while simultaneously expanding... |
20 | 3 | ||
| Zatlers' Reform Party Zatlers' Reform Party The Zatlers' Reform Party is a centre-right political party in Latvia founded by the former President Valdis Zatlers on 23 July 2011. It has 22 seats in the Saeima, making it the second-largest party in the legislature.... Zatlera reformu partija |
ZRP | 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... |
Centre-right Centre-right The centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist... : Anti-corruption Political corruption Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by... |
16 | 0 | ||
| National Alliance National Alliance (Latvia) The National Alliance, officially the National Alliance "All For Latvia!" – "For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK" , abbreviated to NA, is a right-wing political party in Latvia. With fourteen seats in the Saeima, the National Alliance is the fourth-largest party in the legislature... Nacionālā apvienība |
NA | Gaidis Bērziņš Gaidis Bērziņš Gaidis Bērziņš is a Latvian politician, lawyer, and university lecturer in law. He is currently the Minister for Justice of Latvia and co-chair of the National Alliance, along with Raivis Dzintars.... and Raivis Dzintars Raivis Dzintars Raivis Dzintars is a Latvian politician and journalist. He is currently the co-chair of the National Alliance, along with Gaidis Bērziņš.... |
Right-wing Right-wing politics In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is... : National conservatism National conservatism National conservatism is a political term used primarily in Europe to describe a variant of conservatism which concentrates more on national interests than standard conservatism as well as upholding cultural and ethnic identity, while not being outspokenly nationalist or supporting a far-right... , economic liberalism Economic liberalism Economic liberalism is the ideological belief in giving all people economic freedom, and as such granting people with more basis to control their own lives and make their own mistakes. It is an economic philosophy that supports and promotes individual liberty and choice in economic matters and... |
14 | 1 | ||
| Union of Greens and Farmers Union of Greens and Farmers Union of Greens and Farmers is a green/agrarian and conservative political alliance in Latvia. It consists of two political parties: Latvian Farmers' Union and the Green Party of Latvia . It is the third-largest party in the Saeima.... Zaļo un Zemnieku Savienība |
ZZS | Raimonds Vējonis Raimonds Vejonis Raimonds Vējonis is a Latvian politician of the Green Party and the incumbent Minister of the Environment of Latvia.He has a Masters in biology from the University of Latvia.-References:... |
Centre Centrism In politics, centrism is the ideal or the practice of promoting policies that lie different from the standard political left and political right. Most commonly, this is visualized as part of the one-dimensional political spectrum of left-right politics, with centrism landing in the middle between... : Agrarianism Agrarianism Agrarianism has two common meanings. The first meaning refers to a social philosophy or political philosophy which values rural society as superior to urban society, the independent farmer as superior to the paid worker, and sees farming as a way of life that can shape the ideal social values... , green politics Green politics Green politics is a political ideology that aims for the creation of an ecologically sustainable society rooted in environmentalism, social liberalism, and grassroots democracy... |
13 | 0 | Electoral alliance: LZS Latvian Farmers' Union The Latvian Farmers' Union is a centrist agrarian political party in Latvia. Founded in 1917, it was the most influential right-wing political party between the two World Wars, during the period of Latvian independence from the Russian SFSR in 1918 until its annexation by the Soviet Union in 1940,... , LZP Latvian Green Party The Latvian Green Party is a green political party in Latvia. It was founded January 13, 1990.-Chairpersons:Three co-chairpersons share the leadership position at any one time... |
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| Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way Latvijas Pirmā Partija/Latvijas Ceļš |
LPP/LC | 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:*... |
Centre-right Centre-right The centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist... : Conservative liberalism Conservative liberalism Conservative liberalism is a variant of liberalism, combining liberal values and policies with conservative stances, or, more simply, representing the right-wing of the liberal movement.... , social conservatism Social conservatism Social Conservatism is primarily a political, and usually morally influenced, ideology that focuses on the preservation of what are seen as traditional values. Social conservatism is a form of authoritarianism often associated with the position that the federal government should have a greater role... |
0 | 1 | ||
| Par cilvēka tiesībām vienotā Latvijā |
PCTVL | Tatjana Ždanoka Tatjana Ždanoka Tatyana Arkad'evna Zhdanok, , born May 8, 1950 in Riga, is a Latvian politician and Member of the European Parliament and a co-Chairperson of For Human Rights in United Latvia; part of the European Greens–European Free Alliance group. Zhdanok is co-chairperson of ForHRUL since 2001... , Jakovs Pliners Jakovs Pliners Jakovs Pliners or Yakov Pliner, Russian — Я́ков Гда́льевич Пли́нер is a Latvian politician of Jewish origin and MP of the 7th, 8th and 9th convocations for the union For Human Rights in United Latvia... , and Miroslav Mitrofanov Miroslav Mitrofanov Miroslavs Mitrofanovs or Miroslav Mitrofanov, , born December 18, 1966 in Daugavpils, Latvia, is a Latvian journalist and politician, Member of the 7th and 9th Saeima for For Human Rights in United Latvia... |
Left-wing Left-wing politics In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society... : Russian minority politics, democratic socialism Democratic socialism Democratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements and organizations to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation... |
0 | 1 | ||
Minor parties
- Christian Democratic UnionChristian Democratic Union (Latvia)The Christian Democratic Union is a minor christian democratic political party in Latvia. It is currently led by Māra Viktorija Zilgalve.- History :...
(Kristīgi Demokrātiskā Savienība, KDS) - Fatherland's Union (Tēvzemes Savienība, TS)
- Latvian Social Democratic Labour Party (Latvijas Sociāldemokrātiskā Strādnieku Partija, LSDSP)
- Libertas LatviaLibertas LatviaResponsibility – Social Democratic Alliance of Political Parties is a political coalition in Latvia, until 2010 called Libertas.lv, which was the local branch of Declan Ganley's Libertas Party. Unlike Libertas in other countries, Libertas Latvia was not a political party in its own right...
(Libertas.lv) - MotherlandMotherland (Latvia)Motherland is a left populist coalition of political parties in Latvia, founded in 2004. Chairman — Viktors Kalnbērzs, most famous person — Juris Žuravļovs. Founding members: Social Democratic Welfare Party and "For Freedom, Social Justice and Equal Rights"...
(Dzimteni) - Mara Land (Party) (Māras Zeme)
- National Power UnityNational Power UnityNacionālā Spēka SavienībaCurrent Leader:Viktors BirzeFounded:June 26, 2003Headquarters:A. Pumpura 10- 315 kab.Liepāja, LatviaPolitical ideology:Nationalism...
(Nacionālā Spēka Savienība, NSS) - New DemocratsNew Democrats (Latvia)The Demokrāti.lv is a political party in Latvia. It was formed in 2004 when two members of the Latvian parliament, Māris Gulbis and Ināra Ostrovska broke away from the New Era Party. The New Democrats are aligned with the pan-European EUDemocrats organisation.The New Democrats won 1.27% of vote...
(Jaunie Demokrāti, JD) - Our Land (Party) (Mūsu Zeme)
- People of Latgale (Latgales Tauta, LT)
Defunct parties
- All For Latvia!All For Latvia!All For Latvia! was a nationalist political party in Latvia.All For Latvia! started as a political youth organization in 2000 and became a political party in January 2006, running in 2006 elections. It won 1.48% of vote and no seats in the parliament...
(Visu Latvijai!, VL) - Civic UnionCivic Union (Latvia)The Civic Union was a Latvian political party. It was founded in 2008 and most of its members came from the For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK and New Era Party. It has been described as centre-right or right-wing....
(Pilsoniskā Savienība, PS) - Communist Party of LatviaCommunist Party of LatviaCommunist Party of Latvia was a political party in Latvia.- Latvian Social-Democracy prior to 1919 :The party was founded at a congress in June 1904. Initially the party was known as the Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party . During its second party congress in 1905 it adopted the programme of...
(Latvijas Komunistiskā Partija, LKP) - Democratic Center Party (Demokrātiskā Centra Partija, DCP)
- Daugavpils City PartyDaugavpils City PartyThe Daugavpils City Party was a regionalist political party located in the city of Daugavpils, Latvia. It was formed in 2000 and led by Daugavpils Mayor Vitālijs Azarevičs....
(Daugavpils Pilsētas Partija, DPP) - Democratic Party "Saimnieks"Democratic Party "Saimnieks"The Democratic Party "Saimnieks" was a Latvian centre-left political party formed through the merger of the Latvian Democratic Party and the political party "Saimnieks" in 1995. It won the Latvian parliamentary election, 1995 and was represented with 18 deputies in the Saeima of 6th convocation...
(Demokrātiskā Partija "Saimnieks", DPS) - Equal RightsEqual Rights (Latvia)Equal Rights was a political party in Latvia, mainly supported by the Russian minority.ER was founded on the basis of the "Equal Rights" faction of the Supreme Soviet as an NGO in 1993. The Equal Rights faction had been founded in April, 1990, after the Latvian parliamentary election, 1990.The...
(Līdztiesība) - For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK (Tēvzemei un Brīvībai/LNNK, TB/LNNK)
- Free Choice in a People's Europe (Brīvā izvēle tautu Eiropā, BITE)
- Labour Party (Darba Partija, DP)
- Latvian Social Democratic PartyLatvian Social Democratic PartyThe Latvian Social Democratic Party was a political party in Latvia formed by a reformist wing of the Communist Party of Latvia.On 14 April 1990, a pro-independence faction under Ivars Ķezbers split off from the LKP to form the Independent Communist Party of Latvia . The main body of the LKP,...
(Latvijas Sociāldemokrātiskā Partija, LSDP) - Latvian National Independence MovementLatvian National Independence MovementThe Latvian National Independence Movement was a political organization in Latvia from 1988 till mid-1990s.It formed in 1988, as the radical wing of Latvian nationalist movement...
(Latvijas Nacionālās Neatkarības Kustība, LNNK) - Latvia's First Party (Latvijas Pirmā Partija, LPP)
- Latvian WayLatvian WayLatvian Way was a centre-right liberal party in Latvia. It merged with Latvia's First Party to form the Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way in 2007.It described itself as "a liberal party defending people's freedom to shape their own lives"...
(Latvijas Ceļš) - National Harmony PartyNational Harmony PartyThe National Harmony Party was a political party in Latvia.The party identified itself as a social-democratic party. It supported further liberalisation of the citizenship law by granting citizenship to each non-citizen who had lived in Latvia for at least 10 years...
(Tautas Saskaņas Partija, TSP) - New CentreNew Centre (Latvia)New Centre is a political party in Latvia.In 2005, the JC entered the Harmony Centre coalition, which won 17 seats in the 2006 election. It merged into Social Democratic Party "Harmony" in 2010.- External links :...
(Jaunais Centrs, JC) - New Era PartyNew Era PartyThe New Era Party , abbreviated to JL, was a centre-right political party in Latvia. Founded in 2002, the party merged with Civic Union and Society for Other Politics to form Unity in 2011....
(Jaunais Laiks, JL) - New PartyNew Party (Latvia)The New Party , abbreviated to JP, was a centrist political party in Latvia. Formed by composer Raimonds Pauls, the party won eight seats in the Saeima at the 1998 election on the back of Pauls's popularity...
(Jaunā Partija, JP) - People's PartyPeople's Party (Latvia)The People's Party was a centre-right political party in Latvia. It described itself as a conservative party.Tautas partija was founded in 1998 by Andris Šķēle, a businessman and former prime minister, who was the chairman of the party until 2002. Because of Šķēle's powerful personality, many...
(Tautas Partija, TP) - Popular Front of LatviaPopular Front of LatviaThe Popular Front of Latvia was a political organization in Latvia in late 1980s and early 1990s which led Latvia to its independence from the Soviet Union. It was similar to the Popular Front of Estonia and the Sąjūdis movement in Lithuania....
(Latvijas Tautas Fronte, LTF) - Popular Movement for Latvia (Tautas Kustība Latvijai, TKL)
- Social Democratic Union (Sociāldemokrātu Savienība, SDS)
- Society for Other PoliticsSociety for Other PoliticsThe Society for Political Change , abbreviated to SCP, was a social liberal political party in Latvia founded on 6 September 2008. Its members include two former ministers, former foreign minister Artis Pabriks and former economics minister Aigars Štokenbergs; its first president was economist...
(Sabiedrība Citai Politikai, SCP)
See also
- Liberalism in LatviaLiberalism in LatviaThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Latvia. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
- Politics of LatviaPolitics of LatviaThe politics of Latvia takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. The President holds a primarily ceremonial role as Head of State. Executive power is exercised by the government...
- List of political parties by country