LATVIAN INSTITUTE FACTSHEET NO 40 SEPTEMBER 24, 2010

Based on information provided by the Central Election Commission.

SAEIMA ELECTION DAY ON OCTOBER 2 GENERAL INFORMATION AND NOTE TO JOURNALISTS

The 10 th Saeima (parliament) elections in Latvia will be held on Saturday, 2 October 2010. General Provisions The elections for the Saeima in Latvia are held every four years on the first Saturday in October. The Latvia parliamentary election is a proportional representation election system by secret ballot for the 100 seats in the Saeima. The Saeima elections are held in five constituencies: Rīga, Vidzeme, Latgale, Zemgale and Kurzeme. Four months before election day, the Central Election Commission determines the number of Saeima seats for each of the five constituencies, based on the Population Register statistics. On June 1, 2010, the total amount of voters was 1 532 851. They will send 100 deputies to the parliament Saeima: Constituency No of voters No of elected MPs Kurzeme 205 112 13 Zemgale 232 689 15 Latgale 238 837 16 Vidzeme 406 985 27 Rīga and residents abroad 449 228 29 Total 1 532 851 100 Only those lists of candidates which have received at least 5% of the total number of votes cast in all five election constituencies will be elected to the Saeima. Suffrage Citizens of Latvia who have the right to vote and are 18 years of age or over on election day are eligible to participate in the parliamentary elections. To participate in the Saeima elections a voter needs to have a valid Latvian passport in which a stamp will be placed to mark their participation in the elections. Polling Stations Since the Voters’ Register is not used in the Saeima elections, voters may vote at any of the 949 polling stations in Latvia. Each constituency has different candidate lists and voters can only select from the candidate lists from the constituency they are voting in. Polling stations on the election day will be opened from 7:00 till 20:00. Voters in Latvia who are not able to attend polling stations for health reasons can apply for voting at their residence. Saeima elections are also held in those foreign countries where a substantial number of Latvia citizens reside. The votes registered outside of Latvia will be for candidates from the Rīga constituency. Voters residing abroad can participate in elections by attending any of the 64 polling stations established abroad or by postal voting organised by 24 of those polling stations.

1 Persons serving sentences in places of imprisonment are eligible to participate in the 10 th Saeima elections. These persons shall vote at their places of imprisonment.

Candidate Lists Candidate lists for the 10 th Saeima elections were to be submitted to the Central Election Commission from July 14 till August 3. Candidate lists could be submitted by a political party or an association of political parties registered in accordance with the procedure prescribed by law. Further information on elections: www.cvk.lv Composition of the Saeima Party fraction at the Saeima can be established from 5 MPs. At the moment composition of the Saeima is the following: 1) Union of Greens and Farmers 18 MPs 2) Harmony Centre 18 MPs 3) People’s Party 16 MPs 4) New Era 15 MPs 5) Latvia’s First Party / Latvia’s Way 10 MPs 6) Civic Union 7 MPs 7) Nonaffiliated 6 MPs 8) For Human Rights in United Latvia 5 MPs 9) All for Latvia – For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK 5 MPs Further information on Saeima: www.saeima.lv The present government coalition is formed by: 1) New Era, Civic Union, part of nonaffiliated MPs from Society for Other Politics (parties which have formed the party alliance “Unity” for the 10 th Saeima elections); 2) Union of Greens and Farmers; 3) For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK. Prime Minister is Mr Valdis Dombrovskis, representing New Era. Further information on the Cabinet of Ministers and Prime Minister: www.mk.gov.lv Composition of the Rīga City Council After June 6, 2009, local elections, the Rīga, capital city of Latvia, City Council (60 seats) composition is following: 1) Harmony Centre 26 seats 2) Civic Union 14 seats 3) Latvia’s First Party / Latvia’s Way 12 seats 4) New Era 8 seats The Rīga City Council coalition is formed by Harmony Centre and Latvia’s First Party / Latvia’s Way. The Rīga City Mayor is Mr Nils Ušakovs, representing Harmony Centre. For further information see: www.riga.lv Political Parties that Have Submitted Lists for the 10 th Saeima Elections 1. “FHRUL – For Human Rights in United Latvia” Website: www.pctvl.lv (available in Latvian, Russian, English) 2. “UNITY” – party alliance of New Era, Society for Other Politics, and Civic Union Website: www.vienotiba.lv (available in Latvian) 3. “Made in Latvia”

2 Website: www.razotajalatvija.lv (available in Latvian) 4. “Harmony Centre” – association of Daugavpils City Party, National Harmony Party, New Centre, Socialist Party of Latvia, and Social Democratic Party Website: www.saskanascentrs.lv (available in Latvian, Russian) 5. “People’s Control” Website: www.tautaskontrole.lv (available in Latvian, Russian) 6. “Union of Greens and Farmers” – party alliance of Latvian Farmers’ Union and Latvian Green Party Website: www.zzs.lv (available in Latvian) 7. “For Presidential Republic” Website: www.ppr.lv (available in Latvian, Russian) 8. “For Good Latvia” – association of People’s Party with alliance of Latvia’s First Party and Latvia’s Way Website: www.parlabulatviju.lv (available in Latvian, Russian) 9. “RESPONSIBILITY” – association of Latvian Social Democratic Workers’ Party, Our Land, Social Justice Party, and Latvian Awakening Website: www.atbildiba.lv (available in Latvian) 10. “Daugava – For Latvia” Website: http://daugavalatvijai.1w.lv (available in Latvian) 11. “The Last Party” Website: www.pedejapartija.lv (available in Latvian) 12. Party association “All for Latvia” – “For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK” Website: www.visulatvijai.lv (available in Latvian) 13. Christian Democratic Union Website: www.kds.lv (available in Latvian) Election Results Starting on October 2, the website www.velesanas2010.cvk.lv will provide a video broadcast of the results starting from voters’ activity at polling stations and after closure of stations – incoming provisional results. Journalist Accreditation No special accreditation is needed for journalists. Any journalist can access polling stations during election day and observe the counting of votes after closure of polling stations by presenting a personal identification document and a document certifying representation of specific mass media. For further information, please, contact Head of the Information Division of the Central Election Commission Ms Kristīne BērziĦa ( [email protected] ).

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