Elections in Latvia

Latvian parliamentary elections from 1993 graph

A parliamentary election was held on 6 October 2018.

The Constitution of Latvia prescribes a referendum for five purposes:[1]

• recalling of the Parliament (Article 14)
• acceding to the European Union (Article 68)
• accepting substantial changes in the terms regarding the membership in the European Union (if requested by 50% of the Parliament) (Article 68)
• accepting legislation suspended by the President (Article 72)
• amending the Constitution or adopting a law (Article 78)

One tenth of registered voters have the right to initiate a national referendum regarding recalling of the Parliament. Voter turnout needed is two thirds of the number of the voters who participated in the last elections for the Parliament. The Constitution imposes several restrictions on when the recall referendum can be held. It cannot be held:

• one year after the parliamentary elections
• one year before the parliamentary elections
• six months before the presidential elections
• six months after the last recall referendum.

There was one such referendum - parliamentary dissolution referendum of 2011.

Substantial changes in the terms regarding Latvia's membership of the European Union must be decided by a national referendum if such a referendum is requested by at least one-half of the members of the Parliament.

In certain cases the President or one third of members of the Parliament have the right to suspend the proclamation of a law for a period of two months. A referendum will be held on that law if in that two-month period one tenth of the electorate requests a referendum, except if the Parliament again adopts the law by three three-quarters super-majority. Voter turnout needed is 50% of the number of voters who participated in the last elections for the Parliament. If no referendum is requested in the two-month period, then the law is put into effect. Such a referendum has been held on three occasions: in 1998, 1999 and 2007

The Constitution limits issues which can be submitted to a referendum. It forbids issues like budgets, taxes, military conscription, declarations of war, peace treaties, agreements with other nations, etc.

One tenth of the electorate can request amendment of the Constitution or adoption of a law. If the Parliament does not accept the amendment or the draft law, then it will be submitted to a referendum. Certain parts of the Constitution can be amended only by a referendum. An absolute majority (majority of all electors, regardless of voter turnout) is required for an amendment or a draft law to pass on such a referendum. The exception is decisions regarding Latvia's membership of the EU or substantial changes in the terms of membership of the EU - those measures need a voter turnout of 50% of the number of voters who participated in the last elections for the Parliament. Amendments to the Constitution have been put to a referendum in 2 cases: in 2008 and 2012; the same was done for a draft law in 2008 and a European Union membership referendum was held in 2003.

There have been 13 referendums in Latvia's history: 4 in the 1923 - 1934 period and 9 since 1991.

• Electoral calendar
• Electoral system
• 2018 Latvian parliamentary election

• Adam Carr's Election Archive
• Parties and Elections in Europe
• National Elections Commission of Latvia
• OSCE reports on Latvian elections
• NSD: European Election Database - Latvia publishes regional level election data; allows for comparisons of election results, 1990-2010