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New Era Leads, People’s Party Second in Latvia
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - New Era (JL) remains the most popular political organization in Latvia, according to a poll by SKDS. 13.9 per cent of respondents would support the party in the next parliamentary election.
The People's Party (TP) is second with 10.6 per cent, followed by For Human Rights in Unified Latvia (PCTVL) with 10.2 per cent, the Union of the Green and Farmers (ZZS) with 8.9 per cent, and the Union For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK (TVP) with seven per cent. Latvian parties require at least five per cent of the vote to win seats in the Parliament.
Support is lower for the Way for Latvia Union (LC), the First Party of Latvia (LPP), the Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party (LSDSP), the Party of Harmony of the Nation (TSP), New Democracy (JP), Light of Latgale (LG), New Centre (JC), the Social Democratic Union (SDS), Homeland (Dzimtene) and the Latvian Socialist Party (LSP).
In the October 2002 election, New Era received 23.9 per cent of all cast ballots and secured 26 seats in the Parliament. New Era founder Einar Repse became prime minister in November 2002, but was substituted by Indulis Emsis of the ZZS in March 2004.
Last November, the Latvian government changed again after president Vaira Vike-Freiberga nominated TP leader Aigars Kalvitis as prime minister. Kalvitis formed a coalition administration which includes New Era, the ZZS and the LPP. Repse is currently serving as defence minister.
Vike-Freiberga has repeatedly insisted on the restoration of a 1920 peace treaty with Russia, and the condemnation of the 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, which led to the annexation of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania to the Soviet Union.
On Aug. 16, Kalvitis expressed regret over the border negotiations between Latvia and Russia that took place in the 1990s, saying, "Obviously, some people did their job thoughtlessly or with ill intentions. In the future, the Latvian government will try not to reach agreements that are against the interests of the government."
The Baltic nation joined the European Union (EU) in May 2004. The next parliamentary election is tentatively scheduled for October 2006.
Polling Data
What party would you vote for in the next parliamentary election?
Jul. 2005 | Jun. 2005 | |
New Era (JL) | 13.9% | 15.8% |
People's Party (TP) | 10.6% | 11.0% |
For Human Rights in Unified Latvia (PCTVL) | 10.2% | 9.5% |
Union of the Green and Farmers (ZZS) | 8.9% | 11.3% |
Union For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK (TVP) | 7.0% | 9.7% |
Way for Latvia Union (LC) | 3.6% | 3.4% |
First Party of Latvia (LPP) | 2.9% | 4.1% |
Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party (LSDSP) | 2.8% | 3.3% |
Party of Harmony of the Nation (TSP) | 2.5% | 2.4% |
New Democracy (JP) | 1.5% | -- |
Light of Latgale (LG) | 1.3% | 1.7% |
New Centre (JC) | 1.3% | 0.9% |
Social Democratic Union (SDS) | 0.9% | -- |
Homeland (Dzimtene) | 0.9% | 0.6% |
Latvian Socialist Party (LSP) | 0.4% | 0.3% |
Source: SKDS
Methodology: Interviews to 1,015 Latvian citizens conducted from Jul. 7 to Jul. 18, 2005. Margin of error is 4 per cent.
