People's Party (Latvia)

Infobox Political party
name_english = People's Party
name_native = Tautas partija

leader = Atis Slakteris
foundation = 1998
ideology = Conservatism
international =
european = European People's Party
europarl = EPP-ED
colours = Orange
headquarters = Riga
website = http://www.tautaspartija.lv/The People's Party ( _lv. Tautas partija) is a political party in Latvia. It describes 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 voters identified the party with its leader during this period. In 2002, Šķēle left politics and Atis Slakteris became the chairman of Tautas partija. At the October 2002 elections the party became the third largest in the Saeima (parliament), winning 16.7% of the vote and 20 seats. In 2004, People's Party member Aigars Kalvītis became prime minister.

At the last legislative elections, on 7 October 2006, the party won 19.49% of the popular vote and 23 out of 100 seats in the Saeima, becoming the largest party in parliament and maintaining its status as leader of the coalition government, with Kalvītis as prime minister.

Tautas partija is a member of the European People's Party (EPP).

External links

* [http://www.tautaspartija.lv/ Official web site]