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Only New Era Reaches Double-Digits in Latvia
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - New Era (JL) remains the dominant political force in Latvia, according to a poll by SKDS. 15 per cent of respondents would vote for the party in the next parliamentary election.
The People's Party (TP) and the Union of the Green and Farmers (ZZS) are tied for second place with nine per cent, followed by the Union For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK (TVP) and For Human Rights in Unified Latvia (PCTVL) with 7.8 per cent each. Latvian parties require at least five per cent of the vote to win seats in the Parliament.
Support is lower for the First Party of Latvia (LPP), the Way for Latvia Union (LC), the recently created Harmony Centre (SC), New Democracy (JP), the Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party (LSDSP), Homeland (Dzimtene), the Social Democratic Union (SDS), Light of Latgale (LG) 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.
Earlier this month, press reports speculated on whether former Latvian foreign minister and European Union (EU) commissioner Sandra Kalniete will run in next year's parliamentary election as a New Era candidate. Kalniete declared, "I will have to think about my political future, but I have not made up my mind yet." The next parliamentary election is tentatively scheduled for October 2006.
The Baltic nation joined the European Union (EU) in May 2004.
Polling Data
What party would you vote for in the next parliamentary election?
Aug. 2005 | Jul. 2005 | Jun. 2005 | |
New Era (JL) | 15.0% | 13.9% | 15.8% |
People's Party (TP) | 9.0% | 10.6% | 11.0% |
Union of the Green and Farmers (ZZS) | 9.0% | 8.9% | 11.3% |
Union For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK (TVP) | 7.8% | 7.0% | 9.7% |
For Human Rights in Unified Latvia (PCTVL) | 7.8% | 10.2% | 9.5% |
First Party of Latvia (LPP) | 4.0% | 2.9% | 4.1% |
Way for Latvia Union (LC) | 3.7% | 3.6% | 3.4% |
Harmony Centre (SC) | 3.3% | -- | -- |
New Democracy (JP) | 3.2% | 1.5% | -- |
Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party (LSDSP) | 2.6% | 2.8% | 3.3% |
Homeland (Dzimtene) | 1.6% | 0.9% | 0.6% |
Social Democratic Union (SDS) | 1.2% | 0.9% | -- |
Light of Latgale (LG) | 0.9% | 1.3% | 1.7% |
Latvian Socialist Party (LSP) | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.3% |
Party of Harmony of the Nation (TSP) | -- | 2.5% | 2.4% |
New Centre (JC) | -- | 1.3% | 0.9% |
Source: SKDS
Methodology: Interviews to 1,016 Latvian citizens conducted from Aug. 13 to Aug. 23, 2005. Margin of error is 4 per cent.
