Saeima Election Day on October 2 General Information and Note to Journalists
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LATVIA in REVIEW July 26 – August 1, 2011 Issue 30
LATVIA IN REVIEW July 26 – August 1, 2011 Issue 30 CONTENTS Government Latvia's Civic Union and New Era Parties Vote to Participate in Foundation of Unity Party About 1,700 people Have Expressed Wish to Join Latvia's Newly-Founded ZRP Party President Bērziņš to Draft Legislation Defining Criteria for Selection of Ministers Parties Represented in Current Parliament Promise Clarity about Candidates This Week Procedure Established for President’s Convening of Saeima Meetings Economics Bank of Latvia Economist: Retail Posts a Rapid Rise in June Latvian Unemployment Down to 12.3% Fourteen Latvian Banks Report Growth of Deposits in First Half of 2011 European Commission Approves Cohesion Fund Development Project for Rīga Airport Private Investments Could Help in Developing Rīga and Jūrmala as Tourist Destinations Foreign Affairs Latvian State Secretary Participates in Informal Meeting of Ministers for European Affairs Cabinet Approves Latvia’s Initial Negotiating Position Over EU 2014-2020 Multiannual Budget President Bērziņš Presents Letters of Accreditation to New Latvian Ambassador to Spain Society Ministry of Culture Announces Idea Competition for New Creative Quarter in Rīga Unique Exhibit of Sand Sculptures Continues on AB Dambis in Rīga Rīga’s 810 Anniversary to Be Celebrated in August with Events Throughout the Latvian Capital Labadaba 2011 Festival, in the Līgatne District, Showcases the Best of Latvian Music Latvian National Opera Features Special Summer Calendar of Performances in August Articles of Interest Economist: “Same Old Saeima?” Financial Times: “Crucial Times for Investors in Latvia” L’Express: “La Lettonie lutte difficilement contre la corruption” Economist: “Two Just Men: Two Sober Men Try to Calm Latvia’s Febrile Politics” Dezeen magazine: “House in Mārupe by Open AD” Government Latvia's Civic Union, New Era Parties Vote to Participate in Foundation of Unity Party At a party congress on July 30, Latvia's Civic Union party voted to participate in the foundation of the Unity party, Civic Union reported in a statement on its website. -
Latvia's 'Russian Left': Trapped Between Ethnic, Socialist, and Social-Democratic Identities
Cheskin, A., and March, L. (2016) Latvia’s ‘Russian left’: trapped between ethnic, socialist, and social-democratic identities. In: March, L. and Keith, D. (eds.) Europe's Radical Left: From Marginality to the Mainstream? Rowman & Littlefield: London, pp. 231-252. ISBN 9781783485352. There may be differences between this version and the published version. You are advised to consult the publisher’s version if you wish to cite from it. http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/133777/ Deposited on: 11 January 2017 Enlighten – Research publications by members of the University of Glasgow http://eprints.gla.ac.uk This is an author’s final draft. The article has been published as: Cheskin, A. & March, L. (2016) ‘Latvia’s ‘Russian left’: Trapped between ethnic, socialist, and social-democratic identities’ in, L. March & D. Keith (eds.) Europe’s radical left: From marginality to the mainstream? Rowman and Littlefield: London, pp. 231-252. Latvia’s ‘Russian left’: trapped between ethnic, socialist, and social- democratic identities Ammon Cheskin and Luke March Following the 2008 economic crisis, Latvia suffered the worst loss of output in the world, with GDP collapsing 25 percent.1 Yet Latvia’s radical left has shown no notable ideological or strategic response. Existing RLPs did not secure significant political gains from the crisis, nor have new challengers benefitted. Indeed, Latvia has been heralded as a ‘poster child’ for austerity as the right has continued to dominate government policy.2 This chapter explores this puzzle. Although the economic crisis was economically destructive, we argue that the political responses have been consistently ethnicised in Latvia. Additionally, the Latvian left has been equally challenged intellectually and strategically by the ethnically-framed Ukrainian crisis of 2014. -
GENERAL ELECTIONS in LATVIA 17Th September 2011
GENERAL ELECTIONS IN LATVIA 17th September 2011 European Elections monitor The opposition party, Harmony Centre, comes out ahead in from Corinne Deloy the general elections Translated by Helen Levy On 17th September a leftwing party came out ahead in the general elections in Latvia for the first time since 1991, the year in which the country recovered independence. Harmony Centre (SC) won 28.37% of the vote and 31 seats in parliament (+ 2 in comparison with the previous election on 2nd RESULTS October 2010). Harmony Centre took the lead over the Zatlers’s Reform Party (ZRP), a rightwing group founded by former President of the Republic (2007-2011) Valdis Zatlers, which won 20.82% of the vote and 22 seats and Unity (V), the party of outgoing Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis, which won 18.83% of the vote and 20 seats (- 13). The centre-right also emerges strengthened after these elections and should be able to form a government. National Alliance–All for Latvia, a new party that was formed after the merger of the Union for the Fatherland (TB/LNNK) and the far right party, All for Latvia (VL) is the other winner in this election. It has clearly gained ground coming fourth with 13.88% of the vote and 14 seats (+ 6), just ahead of the Greens and Farmers Union (ZSS), a member of the outgoing government coalition, which won 12.22% of the vote and 12 seats (- 9). The other parties, including the People’s Party (TP) led by businessman and former Prime Minister (1995-1997 and 1999-2000) Andris Skele Latvia’s First-Latvia’s Way (LPP-LC), led by Ainars Sle- sers did not manage to rise above the 5% threshold of votes cast, which are vital to be represented in the Saeima, the only chamber of Parliament. -
Macro Report Comparative Study of Electoral Systems Module 4: Macro Report
Comparative Study of Electoral Systems 1 Module 4: Macro Report Comparative Study of Electoral Systems Module 4: Macro Report Country: Latvia Date of Election: 17 September 2011 Prepared by: Jānis Ikstens Date of Preparation: 17 October 2017 NOTES TO COLLABORATORS There are eight sections (numbered A-H inclusive) in this report. Please ensure that you complete all the sections. The information provided in this report contributes to the macro data portion of the CSES, an important component of the CSES project. The information may be filled out by yourself, or by an expert or experts of your choice. Your efforts in providing these data are greatly appreciated. Any supplementary documents that you can provide (e.g.: electoral legislation, party manifestos, electoral commission reports, media reports, district data) are also appreciated, and may be made available on the CSES website. Answers should be as of the date of the election being studied. Where brackets [ ] appear, collaborators should answer by placing an “X” within the appropriate bracket or brackets. For example: [X] If more space is needed to answer any question, please lengthen the document as necessary. Comparative Study of Electoral Systems 2 Module 4: Macro Report A) DATA PERTINENT TO ELECTION AT WHICH MODULE WAS ADMINISTERED 1a. Type of Election: [X] Parliamentary/Legislative [ ] Parliamentary/Legislative and Presidential [ ] Presidential [ ] Other; please specify: __________ 1b. If the type of election in Question 1a included Parliamentary/Legislative, was the election for the Upper House, Lower House, or both? [ ] Upper House [ ] Lower House [ ] Both [X] Other; please specify: unicameral Parliament 2a. What was the party of the president prior to the most recent election, regardless of whether the election was presidential? Political alliance “Union of Greens and Farmers”. -
Group Cohesion and Minority Bargaining: the Case Of
GROUP COHESION AND MINORITY BARGAINING: THE CASE OF ESTONIAN AND LATVIAN RUSSIAN-SPEAKERS AFTER 2004 By Kristiina Silvan Submitted to Central European University Department of International Relations and European Studies In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Supervisor: Professor Béla Greskovits Word count: 17,230 CEU eTD Collection Budapest, Hungary 2015 ABSTRACT This thesis examines the repertoire of bargaining measures employed by the Estonian and Latvian Russian-speaking minorities to improve their position in the post-2004 era. Ever since the re-establishment of Estonia and Latvia as independent states, Russophone minorities have suffered from restrictive policy measures stemming from the majority elites' monoethnic state and nation building projects. According to the literature on minority mobilisation and ethnic bargaining, Russia's interest in promoting the causes of its compatriots abroad that has been clearly pronounced in recent years should translate into increased bargaining leverage and radicalisation of the minorities that suffer from the policies of the "nationalising" state. However, as the cases of Estonia and Latvia demonstrate, group cohesion among both the minority and majority is an important variable affecting claim-making efforts. In the case of a fragmented minority, competing interpretations of bargaining opportunity that emerge within different sub-groups can decisively hamper effective claim-making – especially if the minority is trying to challenge a majority that is united in opposition to the minority's demands. Drawing from both theoretical frameworks of ethnic bargaining and political opportunity structure as well as descriptive quantitative data and elite statements, this thesis demonstrates that external support does not thus automatically translate into intensifying minority claim-making. -
Russia-Baltic Relations After Crimea's
CICERO FOUNDATION GREAT DEBATE PAPER No. 14/05 June 2014 RUSSIA-BALTIC RELATIONS AFTER CRIMEA’S ANNEXATION: REASONS FOR CONCERN? AGNIA GRIGAS, PhD Fellow at the McKinnon Center for Global Affairs at Occidental College Los Angeles, CA Former Advisor to the Government of Lithuania Cicero Foundation Great Debate Paper No. 14/05 © Agnia Grigas, 2014 All rights reserved The Cicero Foundation is an independent pro-Atlantic and pro-EU think tank. www.cicerofoundation.org The views expressed in Cicero Foundation Great Debate Papers do not necessarily express the opinion of the Cicero Foundation, but they are considered interesting and thought-provoking enough to be published. Permission to make digital or hard copies of any information contained in these web publications is granted for personal use, without fee and without formal request. Full citation and copyright notice must appear on the first page. Copies may not be made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage. The Cicero Foundation FRANCE THE NETHERLANDS 13, rue Washington Hondertmarck D 45 75008 PARIS 6211 MB MAASTRICHT Tel. +33 1 45 62 05 90 Tel. +31 43 32 60 602 Fax +33 1 45 62 05 30 Fax +31 43 32 60 828 Email [email protected] [email protected] 2 Russia-Baltic Relations After Crimea’s Annexation: Reasons for Concern? Agnia Grigas, PhD When the Baltic states gained NATO and EU membership ten years ago, the dual accession was believed to have resolved the security dilemma of the Baltic states vis-a-vis their regional hegemon Russia. In fact, before Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March 2014, a territorial assault on the Baltic states seemed implausible even while Moscow’s efforts to maintain influence in the Baltic region left no doubt. -
Latvia Reloaded – the Parties Are Trying to Revive the Spirit of 1991
1|2011 KAS INTERNATIONAL REPORTS 71 Latvia reLoaded – the parties are trying to revive the spirit of 1991 Andreas M. Klein In many ways, the elections of 2nd October 2010 were a call for Latvia’s 1.5 million citizens to decide the future direction of their country. On the one hand the ruling coalition made up of “Unity” (Vienotība), “Union of Greens and Farmers” (Zaļo un Zemnieku Savienība / ZZS) and “For Fatherland and Freedom” (Tēvzemei un Brīvībai / TB/LNNK), headed by Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis, sought agreement for its austerity policies caused by the crisis, on the other Andreas M. Klein is hand the electorate had to vote on whether the business Resident Represen- tative of the Konrad- interests of the Latvian “oligarchs” should continue to have Adenauer-Stiftung in a significant influence on the country’s politics. On top of Latvia. this, since the local elections of June 2009, there had been a shift in power towards the “Harmony Centre” (Saskaņas Centrs / SC), the party representing the ethnic Russian minority, which after the election became the strongest faction on the influential Riga City Council and which maintained steady support in the polls of between 25 to 30 per cent in the lead-up to the election. In the end the civic electoral alliance Vienotība, which was formed in March out of “New Era” (Jaunais laiks / JL), “Civic Union” (Pilsoniskā savienība / PS) and “Society for Other Politics” (SCP), won a surprise clear majority over the other parties with 31.22 per cent of the vote. And as the two previous coalition also increased their share of the vote, the ruling coalition came out of the tenth elections to the Saeima, the Latvian Parliament, stronger than ever. -
Codebook: Government Composition, 1960-2019
Codebook: Government Composition, 1960-2019 Codebook: SUPPLEMENT TO THE COMPARATIVE POLITICAL DATA SET – GOVERNMENT COMPOSITION 1960-2019 Klaus Armingeon, Sarah Engler and Lucas Leemann The Supplement to the Comparative Political Data Set provides detailed information on party composition, reshuffles, duration, reason for termination and on the type of government for 36 democratic OECD and/or EU-member countries. The data begins in 1959 for the 23 countries formerly included in the CPDS I, respectively, in 1966 for Malta, in 1976 for Cyprus, in 1990 for Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, in 1991 for Poland, in 1992 for Estonia and Lithuania, in 1993 for Latvia and Slovenia and in 2000 for Croatia. In order to obtain information on both the change of ideological composition and the following gap between the new an old cabinet, the supplement contains alternative data for the year 1959. The government variables in the main Comparative Political Data Set are based upon the data presented in this supplement. When using data from this data set, please quote both the data set and, where appropriate, the original source. Please quote this data set as: Klaus Armingeon, Sarah Engler and Lucas Leemann. 2021. Supplement to the Comparative Political Data Set – Government Composition 1960-2019. Zurich: Institute of Political Science, University of Zurich. These (former) assistants have made major contributions to the dataset, without which CPDS would not exist. In chronological and descending order: Angela Odermatt, Virginia Wenger, Fiona Wiedemeier, Christian Isler, Laura Knöpfel, Sarah Engler, David Weisstanner, Panajotis Potolidis, Marlène Gerber, Philipp Leimgruber, Michelle Beyeler, and Sarah Menegal. -
Implications of the Referendum on the Dissolution of the Latvian Parliament
BULLETIN No. 64 (281) June 16, 2011 © PISM Editors: Marcin Zaborowski (Editor-in-Chief), Agnieszka Kopeć (Executive Editor), Łukasz Adamski, Beata Górka-Winter, Artur Gradziuk, Leszek Jesień, Beata Wojna, Ernest Wyciszkiewicz Implications of the Referendum on the Dissolution of the Latvian Parliament Kinga Dudzińska On 28 May, 2011 Latvian President Valdis Zatlers promised a referendum on the dissolution of parliament. It will be held on 23 July, and probably the majority of the population will opt for the dismissal of the Saeima, the country’s unicameral parliamentary body. Early elections could lead to a new political constellation in parliament and one probably less reformist than the current group. If this happens, or there are difficulties in forming a new government, Latvia’s position in the region will be weakened. The impetus to declare a referendum in Latvia to dissolve parliament was spurred by the Saeima’s decision to reject a request by the Office for the Prevention and Combating of Corruption for permission to search the private property of influential entrepreneur and politician Ainārs Šlesers. The president’s decision to call for the early parliamentary election, independent of any political parties, was unexpected, especially as it came just before the election of the head of state by parlia- ment. Zatlers said his action was motivated by a desire to raise the standards of political life. In his speech, he warned against rampant “privatization of policy,” the growing influence of “oli- garchs” and called for a fight against corruption. This explanation, as confirmed by the polls, was convincing to the public. -
REGULATION of POLITICAL PARTIES in UKRAINE: the CURRENT STATE and DIRECTION of REFORMS Ce , Political Party Cial Opinion Ght Against Corruption
THE CURRENT STATEREGULATION AND DIRECTION OF POLITICAL OF REFORMSPARTIES IN UKRAINE: Th e reform of political parties legislation and regulation can act as a platform Denys Kovryzhenko from which to consider a wide array of crucial issues in the development of a stable Agency for Legislative Initiatives and lasting democratic party system. Th ese include, inter alia, political party fi nancing, internal party democracy, the participation of women, registration and monitoring of political parties. In partnership with the OSCE’s Offi ce for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and with the fi nancial support of the European Union, REGULATION Denys Kovryzhenko and his colleagues at the Agency for Legislative Initiatives (ALI), led an in-depth consultative process with key stakeholders in Ukraine T H E C U R R E N T on the issue of political party legislation reform, raising problems and proposing possible solutions. OF POLITICAL Th e result is Regulation of Political Parties in Ukraine: the Current State and Direction of Reforms, a comprehensive report which thoroughly analyses S T A T E A N D the particular problems and issues in Ukraine’s legislative and regulatory framework for political parties. Looking forward, and based on the results ofthe consultations, the report proposes an agenda for reform based PARTIES on international and European standards and best practice. D I R E C T I O N Th e Agency for Legislative Initiatives (ALI) is one of the leading Ukrainian think tanks. ALI has a 10-year experience in implementing projects aiming I N U K R A I N E at the introduction of policy dialogue practices into the law-making process, ensuring public participation in the legislative process, monitoring ofthe activities O F R E F O R M S of the parliament, studying the principles and problems of Ukrainian parliamentarism, and conducting comparative studies on a variety of subjects, such as election legislation, political parties, and the fi ght against corruption. -
Russia's Influence and Presence in Latvia
DEFENCE, FOREIGN POLICY AND SECURITY RUSSIA‘S INFLUENCE AND PRESENCE IN LATVIA ARTURS BIKOVS - ILVIJA BRUGE - ANDRIS SPRUDS www.europeanreform.org @europeanreform A Brussels-based free market, euro-realist think-tank and publisher, established in 2010 under the patronage of Baroness Thatcher. We have satellite offices in London, Rome and Warsaw. New Direction - The Foundation for European Reform is registered in Belgium as a non-for-profit organisation (ASBL) and is partly funded by the European Parliament. REGISTERED OFFICE: Rue du Trône, 4, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Naweed Khan. www.europeanreform.org @europeanreform The European Parliament and New Direction assume no responsibility for the opinions expressed in this publication. Sole liability rests with the author. Russia‘s influence and presence in Latvia Arturs Bikovs - Ilvija Bruge - Andris Spruds AUTHORS TABLE OF CONTENTS EDITORIAL 7 INTRODUCTION 9 Arturs Bikovs 1 OVERVIEW OF RUSSIAN-LATVIAN RELATIONS - HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND LEGACY 10 2 ATTITUDES TO RUSSIA IN LATVIA’S SOCIETY 14 3 RUSSIA’S COMPATRIOT POLICY IN LATVIA - CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS TIES 17 Ilvija Bruge 4 ECONOMIC RELATIONS - TRAJECTORIES OF TRADE AND INVESTMENT 22 5 RUSSIA’S FACTOR IN POLITICAL AND BUSINESS LINKS 26 CONCLUSIONS 30 ANNEX 1 RUSSIA AS A THREAT TO THE STATES BEING IN THE ZONE OF INFLUENCE 31 Andris Spruds ANNEX 2 POPULATION AND LANGUAGES IN THE LATVIA, INCLUDING RUSSIAN 32 MINORITY AND RUSSIAN LANGUAGE ANNEX 3 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 34 4 New Direction - The Foundation for European Reform www.europeanreform.org @europeanreform 5 Russia‘s influence and presence in Latvia Arturs Bikovs - Ilvija Bruge - Andris Spruds EDITORIAL its former ‘soviet republics’ and its attempts to undermine European unity through energy interests, political funding, and media (dis)information. -
The Political Elite Recruitment in the Baltic: the Role of the Ethnic Factor Smirnov, Vadim
www.ssoar.info The political elite recruitment in the Baltic: the role of the ethnic factor Smirnov, Vadim Veröffentlichungsversion / Published Version Zeitschriftenartikel / journal article Empfohlene Zitierung / Suggested Citation: Smirnov, V. (2013). The political elite recruitment in the Baltic: the role of the ethnic factor. Baltic Region, 4, 105-115. https://doi.org/10.5922/2079-8555-2013-4-10 Nutzungsbedingungen: Terms of use: Dieser Text wird unter einer Free Digital Peer Publishing Licence This document is made available under a Free Digital Peer zur Verfügung gestellt. Nähere Auskünfte zu den DiPP-Lizenzen Publishing Licence. For more Information see: finden Sie hier: http://www.dipp.nrw.de/lizenzen/dppl/service/dppl/ http://www.dipp.nrw.de/lizenzen/dppl/service/dppl/ Diese Version ist zitierbar unter / This version is citable under: https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-51240-4 V. Smirnov The role of the ethnic factor in political THE POLITICAL ELITE processes in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia has RECRUITMENT been rather significant since these countries gained independence. The author investigates IN THE BALTIC: the following assumption: after the completion of major Eurointegration pro¬cedures, the THE ROLE ethnic factor — which became especially im- OF THE ETHNIC FACTOR portant in the Baltics after independence — relegated to the periphery of political life. After a period of ‘independence-in- duced euphoria’ faded, Lithuanian, Latvian * and Estonian power groups had to tackle V. Smirnov the problem of civil society formation and the development of a political regime based on democratic procedures. In these coun- tries the processes of elite recruitment were largely affected by the factor of ethic ho- mogeneity of the social structure.