Borders: Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Russia
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Capital: Riga
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Head of government: The Prime Minister, appointed by the President. The
Prime Minister is the leader of the largest party in the legislature and
is accountable to it.
Legislature: Latvia has a unicameral legislature, the
Parliament (Saeima), which has 100 members elected
for four-year terms by proportional representation.
Electoral authority: The Central Election Commission of Latvia administers national elections
Freedom House rating:
Political Rights 1, Civil Liberties 2
Political history
The Latvian or Lettish-speaking lands were fought over by the Teutonic Knights, the
Russians, Poles, Swedes and Lithuanians until 1558, when they were incorporated into the
Kingdom of Poland. In 1793 Poland was partitioned by its neighbours and Latvia came under
Russian rule. When the Russian Empire collaped in 1918, Latvia became an independent
state, although not recognised until 1922.
At first a liberal democracy, Latvia became a
dictatorship under Karlis Ulmanis in 1934. In 1940, under the secret clauses of the
Nazi-Soviet pact, Latvia was forced to accept Soviet occupation, and incorporation into the
Soviet Union soon followed. Latvia was occupied by Nazi Germany 1941-45, then returned
to Soviet rule until 1991, when it declared its resumption of independence on the collapse
of Soviet power.
Latvia's main problem since independence has been the presence of a large Russian
minority. A campaign of vigorous Latvianisation followed independence, but Latvia's
desire to join the European Union has forced it to accept greater respect for minority
rights. Latvia is due to join both the EU and NATO in 2004.
The dominant political party is now the centrist
New Era party of the present Prime Minister. Its
main opposition is the conservative People's Party.
The
Russian minority is represented by For Human Rights in a United Latvia. Other parties include a coalition between the Latvian Green Party
and the Latvian Farmers' Union, and the nationalist
Latvia First Party and Fatherland and Freedom. The former ruling party, the liberal
Latvia's Way, lost all its seats at the last election, as
did the Latvian Socialist Party.
At first a liberal democracy, Latvia became a dictatorship under Karlis Ulmanis in 1934. In 1940, under the secret clauses of the Nazi-Soviet pact, Latvia was forced to accept Soviet occupation, and incorporation into the Soviet Union soon followed. Latvia was occupied by Nazi Germany 1941-45, then returned to Soviet rule until 1991, when it declared its resumption of independence on the collapse of Soviet power.
Latvia's main problem since independence has been the presence of a large Russian minority. A campaign of vigorous Latvianisation followed independence, but Latvia's desire to join the European Union has forced it to accept greater respect for minority rights. Latvia is due to join both the EU and NATO in 2004.
The dominant political party is now the centrist New Era party of the present Prime Minister. Its main opposition is the conservative People's Party. The Russian minority is represented by For Human Rights in a United Latvia. Other parties include a coalition between the Latvian Green Party and the Latvian Farmers' Union, and the nationalist Latvia First Party and Fatherland and Freedom. The former ruling party, the liberal Latvia's Way, lost all its seats at the last election, as did the Latvian Socialist Party.