Latvian parliamentary election, 2006

The last elections for 9th Saeima, the parliament of Latvia were held on October 7, 2006. There were lists of candidates from 19 political parties. The voter participation was 62,23%, with 901,173 out of 1,448,039 eligible voters casting votes.

Out of the 19 parties contesting the elections, 7 gathered 5% or more of votes and won seats in the parliament.

The elections were the clear victory for the governing coalition, led by Prime Minister Aigars Kalvītis and his People's Party. Kalvitis's government thus became the first to be re-elected since Latvia regained independence in 1991. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5416778.stm (BBC)]

Violations and evaluations

OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election Observationn Mission has found that "Despite the ongoing naturalization process, the fact that a significant percentage of the adult population of Latvia does not enjoy voting rightsrepresents a continuing democratic deficit". Its recommendations include:
*allowing independent candidates to stand in elections;
*giving consideration to granting the “non-citizens” of Latvia the right to vote in municipal elections;
*allowing to produce instructional materials, voter information and other relevant documents in both Latvian and Russian;
*clarifying applicability of the Party Financing Law to third-party activities in support of anelectoral campaign or during the campaign period;
*considering terminating candidacy restrictions based on lustration provisions prior to the next Saeima elections. [ [http://www.osce.org/documents/odihr/2002/11/1441_en.pdf Republic of Latvia parliamentary elections 7 October 2006. OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission Final Report] , 2007]

MP J. Boldāns, elected from TB/LNNK, was sentenced by Latgale Regional Court to imprisonment for election fraud. J. Boldāns has appealed. [ [http://www.tvnet.lv/zinas/article.php?id=517018 Boldānam par vēlēšanu rezultātu viltošanu piespriež cietumsodu] lv icon] .

Member of "Harmony centre" J. Klementjevs and three employees of his enterprise were fined for buying votes by Zemgale Regional Court. [ [http://www.tvnet.lv/zinas/latvija/article.php?id=517475 No SC ievēlētā Saeimas deputāta brālis atstās partiju] lv icon]

The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) has found that People's Party, LPP/LC, Harmony Centre, New Era and UGF have exceeded spending limits. [ [http://www.knab.gov.lv/uploads/word/PO2006V.doc Pārskats par atklātajiem partiju finansēšanas pārkāpumiem Saeimas vēlēšanās 2006. gadālv icon] ]

References

External links

*lv icon [http://reitingi.blogspot.com Ratings of Latvia's political parties]
*en icon [http://web.cvk.lv/pub/public/28333.html Central Election Commission]
*lv icon [http://www.velesanas2006.cvk.lv/ The 9th Saeima election website]