El marc polític de Letònia

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

President: Edgars RINKEVICS (since 8 July 2023)
Prime Minister: Evika SILINA (since 15 September 2023)

Next Election Dates

Presidential: 2027
Parliamentary: October 2026

Main Political Parties

Latvia has a multi-party system, where no one party has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other to form coalition governments. The major parties/alliances in the country are:

- New Unity (JV): centre-right political alliance formed by Unity, the Latgale Party and four other regional parties
- United List (AS):  centrist and regionalist alliance formed by the Latvian Green Party, the Latvian Association of Regions, and the Liepāja Party
- National Alliance (NA): national-conservative and right-wing populist political party
- Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS): agrarian political alliance made up of the Latvian Farmers' Union, Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party, and For Latvia and Ventspils
- "Harmony" (SDPS): centre-left, promotes closer ties with Russia
- The Progressives (P): social-democratic
- Latvia First (LPV): right-wing, populist
- For Stability (ST!): centre, Eurosceptic
- Humane Latvia (PCL): centre to right-wing, populism
- New Conservative Party (JKP): conservatism
- Development/For! (AP!): centre, social liberalism
- Unity (V): centre-right, liberal conservatism, pro-Europe
- Union of Farmers and Greens (ZZS): centre
- Latvian Russian Union (LKS): left-wing, Russian minority politics.

Executive Power

The President is the head of state and is elected by the parliament in a separate election for a four-year term. The President serves as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He appoints the Prime Minister as head of government, who must then receive a vote of confidence from the parliament to take office. The Prime Minister holds executive powers, which include the implementation of the law and overseeing the day-to-day affairs of the government. The term of the Prime Minister depends on the parliamentary term and the government's stability. The Council of Ministers is nominated by the Prime Minister and appointed by the parliament.

Legislative Power

Latvia has a unicameral legislature. The Parliament, known as the Saeima, consists of 100 seats, and its members are elected through direct popular vote for four-year terms.

The executive branch depends directly or indirectly on the support of the parliament, often shown through a vote of confidence. Legislative power is shared between the government and the parliament. The government does not have the authority to dissolve the parliament. The people of Latvia enjoy significant political rights.