Though born in Rīga in 1937, she settled in Canada during the years of the Soviet occupation, becoming a well-respected academic in the subject of Latvian culture.
In accordance with the law, Latvian citizens are those who had Latvian citizenship prior to June 17, 1940, and their descendants.
The Popular Front, which spearheaded the drive for independence two years previously with a 75% majority in the last parliamentary elections in 1990, did not qualify for representation.
Other categories of persons not eligible for naturalization include convicted criminals, state officials and servicemen of armed forces of a foreign state, members of Communist Party as well as members of certain affiliate organizations, who, after 13 January 1991, have acted against the Latvian State.
After almost three years of deliberations, Latvia finalized a citizenship and naturalization law in summer 1994. In the 5–6 June 1993 elections, with a turnout of over 90%, eight of Latvia's 23 registered political parties passed the four per cent threshold to enter parliament.
After almost three years of deliberations, Latvia finalized a citizenship and naturalization law in summer 1994. In the 5–6 June 1993 elections, with a turnout of over 90%, eight of Latvia's 23 registered political parties passed the four per cent threshold to enter parliament.
The centrist Latvian Way party received a 33% plurality of votes and joined with the Farmer's Union to head a centre-right coalition government. Led by the opposition National Conservative Party, right-wing nationalists won a majority of the seats nationwide and also captured the Riga mayoralty in the 29 May 1994 municipal elections.
In February 1995, the Council of Europe granted Latvia membership. With President Bill Clinton's assistance, on 30 April 1994 Latvia and Russia signed a troop withdrawal agreement.
Russia withdrew its troops by 31 August 1994 but maintained several hundred technical specialists to staff an OSCE-monitored phased-array ABM radar station at Skrunda until 31 August 1998. The 30 September-1 October 1995 elections produced a deeply fragmented parliament with nine parties represented and the largest party - the newly founded centrist Democratic Party "Saimnieks" - commanding only 18 of 100 seats.
Karins’ coalition was formed by five of the seven parties in parliament, excluding only the pro-Russia Harmony party and the Union of Greens and Farmers. ==Citizenship and language issues== The current edition of the citizenship law was adopted in 1998 after much debate and pressure from Russia and European Union, amending a more restrictive law, initially passed in 1994.
In February 1995, the Council of Europe granted Latvia membership. With President Bill Clinton's assistance, on 30 April 1994 Latvia and Russia signed a troop withdrawal agreement.
Russia withdrew its troops by 31 August 1994 but maintained several hundred technical specialists to staff an OSCE-monitored phased-array ABM radar station at Skrunda until 31 August 1998. The 30 September-1 October 1995 elections produced a deeply fragmented parliament with nine parties represented and the largest party - the newly founded centrist Democratic Party "Saimnieks" - commanding only 18 of 100 seats.
In order to be eligible for dual citizenship, they had to claim it by July 1, 1995.
In June 1996, the Saeima re-elected Ulmanis to another 3-year term.
In the summer of 1997, the daily newspaper Diena revealed that half the cabinet ministers and two-thirds of parliamentarians appeared to violate the 1996 anti-corruption law, which bars senior officials from holding positions in private business.
In the summer of 1997, the daily newspaper Diena revealed that half the cabinet ministers and two-thirds of parliamentarians appeared to violate the 1996 anti-corruption law, which bars senior officials from holding positions in private business.
Russia withdrew its troops by 31 August 1994 but maintained several hundred technical specialists to staff an OSCE-monitored phased-array ABM radar station at Skrunda until 31 August 1998. The 30 September-1 October 1995 elections produced a deeply fragmented parliament with nine parties represented and the largest party - the newly founded centrist Democratic Party "Saimnieks" - commanding only 18 of 100 seats.
It pursued the same course of reform, albeit not as vigorously. In the 1998 elections, the Latvian party structure began to consolidate with only six parties winning seats in the Saeima.
Karins’ coalition was formed by five of the seven parties in parliament, excluding only the pro-Russia Harmony party and the Union of Greens and Farmers. ==Citizenship and language issues== The current edition of the citizenship law was adopted in 1998 after much debate and pressure from Russia and European Union, amending a more restrictive law, initially passed in 1994.
His four-party coalition government lasted till the next elections in 2002. In 1999, the Saeima elected Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, a compromise candidate with no party affiliation, to the presidency.
Two parliamentary parties, Harmony Centre and ForHRUL, have requested that Russian (26.9% of inhabitants, according to the 2011 census, are Russians) be given official status. Since 1999, the education laws have forbidden the public universities to instruct students in languages other than Latvian (there are exclusions made for linguistics, some international projects and non-budget groups).
In May 2000, a compromise candidate was found in the form of Andris Bērziņš, the Latvian Way mayor of Rīga.
Since her election, she has become one of the most popular political figures in Latvia. Local elections in 2001 represented a victory for the left-of-center parties in several municipalities, including Rīga.
A leftist coalition in the Rīga City Council elected Gundars Bojārs, a Social Democrat, to the office of mayor. Between local elections in 2001 and Saeima elections in 2002, two new parties formed: the conservative New Era Party led by Einars Repše and Christian Democratic Latvia's First Party.
His four-party coalition government lasted till the next elections in 2002. In 1999, the Saeima elected Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, a compromise candidate with no party affiliation, to the presidency.
A leftist coalition in the Rīga City Council elected Gundars Bojārs, a Social Democrat, to the office of mayor. Between local elections in 2001 and Saeima elections in 2002, two new parties formed: the conservative New Era Party led by Einars Repše and Christian Democratic Latvia's First Party.
Both of them promised to fight corruption and made that the most important issue in the 2002 elections.
Six parties were elected to Saeima in 2002 elections.
After elections, Einars Repše formed a government consisting of his New Era Party and three other parties. In 2003, Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga was re-elected to the presidency for the second term, until 2007.
On 20 September 2003, Latvia voted to join the European Union in a referendum.
The law included a provision allowing for instruction in Latvian only in public high schools since 2004.
As of November 2005, about 109,000 persons applied for naturalization and about 103,000 of them were granted Latvian citizenship. In 2006 approximately 18 per cent of the total population (420,000 inhabitants of Latvia, slightly less than half of ethnically non-Latvian population) had no Latvian citizenship.
As of November 2005, about 109,000 persons applied for naturalization and about 103,000 of them were granted Latvian citizenship. In 2006 approximately 18 per cent of the total population (420,000 inhabitants of Latvia, slightly less than half of ethnically non-Latvian population) had no Latvian citizenship.
After elections, Einars Repše formed a government consisting of his New Era Party and three other parties. In 2003, Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga was re-elected to the presidency for the second term, until 2007.
By the end of 2008, parties had a hard time agreeing on further budget cuts, (mainly in the social sphere) the planned reorganization of the government, and layoffs. On 13 January 2009, there were severe riots in Riga, with protesters attacking the building of the parliament.
By the end of 2008, parties had a hard time agreeing on further budget cuts, (mainly in the social sphere) the planned reorganization of the government, and layoffs. On 13 January 2009, there were severe riots in Riga, with protesters attacking the building of the parliament.
After talks, on 4 March 2009 five parties confirmed their participation in the coalition: New Era, People's Party, Union of Greens and Peasants, For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK, and Civic Union. In 2010 parliamentary election ruling centre-right coalition won 63 out of 100 parliamentary seats.
Ruling coalition, comprising the Union of Greens and Farmers, the National Alliance and the Unity party, lost. In November 2013, Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis, in office since 2009, resigned after at least 54 people were killed and dozens injured in the collapse at a supermarket in Riga.
After talks, on 4 March 2009 five parties confirmed their participation in the coalition: New Era, People's Party, Union of Greens and Peasants, For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK, and Civic Union. In 2010 parliamentary election ruling centre-right coalition won 63 out of 100 parliamentary seats.
Two parliamentary parties, Harmony Centre and ForHRUL, have requested that Russian (26.9% of inhabitants, according to the 2011 census, are Russians) be given official status. Since 1999, the education laws have forbidden the public universities to instruct students in languages other than Latvian (there are exclusions made for linguistics, some international projects and non-budget groups).
Ruling coalition, comprising the Union of Greens and Farmers, the National Alliance and the Unity party, lost. In November 2013, Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis, in office since 2009, resigned after at least 54 people were killed and dozens injured in the collapse at a supermarket in Riga.
In 2014 parliamentary election was won again by the ruling centre-right coalition formed by the Latvian Unity Party, the National Alliance and the Union of Greens and Farmers.
In December 2015, country’s first female Prime Minister, in office since January 2014, Laimdota Straujuma resigned.
In December 2015, country’s first female Prime Minister, in office since January 2014, Laimdota Straujuma resigned.
In February 2016, a coalition of Union of Greens and Farmers, The Unity and National Alliance was formed by new Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis.
In 2018 parliamentary election pro-Russian Harmony was again the biggest party securing 23 out of 100 seats.
Locally, Latvia elects municipal councils, consisting of 7 to 60 members, depending on the size of the municipality, also by proportional representation for a four-year term. ==Political parties and elections== Summary of the 6 October 2018 Latvian Saeima election results ==Judicial branch== Judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament and are irrevocable, except on the decision of the Judicial Disciplinary Board or on the judgment of a criminal court.
In January 2019, Latvia got a government led by new Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins of the centre-right New Unity.
All text is taken from Wikipedia. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License .
Page generated on 2021-08-05