Latvia - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Latvia, it was the name "Latvia" originates from the ancient Latgalians, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.). The Government system in this country is the parliamentary republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes:
36 municipalities (novadi, singular - novads) and 7 state cities (valstpilsetu pasvaldibas, singular valstspilsetas pasvaldiba)
municipalities: Adazi, Aizkraukle, Aluksne, Augsdaugava, Balvi, Bauska, Cesis, Dienvidkurzeme, Dobele, Gulbene, Jekabpils, Jelgava, Kekava, Kraslava, Kuldiga, Limbazi, Livani, Ludza, Madona, Marupe, Ogre, Olaine, Preili, Rezekne, Ropazi, Salaspils, Saldus, Saulkrasti, Sigulda, Smiltene, Talsi, Tukums, Valka, Valmiera, Varaklani, Ventspils
cities: Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Rezekne, Riga, Ventspils
National symbols
White wagtail (bird); national colors: maroon, white.
The flag
The National flag of Latvia has three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon; the flag is one of the older banners in the world; a medieval chronicle mentions a red standard with a white stripe being used by Latvian tribes in about 1280.
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The National Anthem
| Title | "Dievs, sveti Latviju!" (God Bless Latvia) |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | Karlis BAUMANIS |
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note: adopted 1920, restored 1990; first performed in 1873 while Latvia was a part of Russia; banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990
More about the government of Latvia
| Date of Independence | 18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 4 May 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | Independence Day (Republic of Latvia Proclamation Day), 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 was the date Latvia established its statehood and its concomitant independence from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 was the date it declared the restoration of Latvian statehood and its concomitant independence from the Soviet Union |
| Legal system | civil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| Constitution | |
| History | Several previous (pre-1991 independence); note - following the restoration of independence in 1991, parts of the 1922 constitution were reintroduced 4 May 1990 and fully reintroduced 6 July 1993 |
| Amendments | Proposed by two thirds of Parliament members or by petition of one tenth of qualified voters submitted through the president; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in each of three readings; amendment of constitutional articles, including national sovereignty, language, the parliamentary electoral system, and constitutional amendment procedures, requires passage in a referendum by majority vote of at least one half of the electorate; amended several times, last in 2019 |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | no |
| Citizenship by descent only | at least one parent must be a citizen of Latvia |
| Dual citizenship recognized | no |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 5 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | President Edgars RINKEVICS (since 8 July 2023) |
| Head of government | Prime Minister Evika SILINA (since 15 September 2023) |
| Cabinet | Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by Parliament |
| Elections/appointments | president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 31 May 2023 (next to be held in 2027); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Parliament |
| Election results | 2023: Edgars RINKEVICS elected president in the third round; Parliament vote - Edgars RINKEVICS (Unity Party) 52, Uldis Pīlēns (independent) 25; Evika SILINA confirmed as prime minister 53-39 2019: Egils LEVITS elected president; Parliament vote - Egils LEVITS (independent) 61, Didzis SMITS (KPV LV) 24, Juris JANSONS (independent) 8; Krisjanis KARINS confirmed as prime minister 61-39 |
| Legislative branch | |
| Description | Unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) |
| Elections | Last held on 1 October 2012 (next to be held no later than 3 October 2026) |
| Election results | Percent of vote by party - JV 19.2%, ZZS 12.6%, AS 11.1%, NA 9.4%, S! 6.9%, LPV 6.3%, PRO 6.2%; seats by party - JV 26, ZZS 16, AS 15, NA 13, S! 11, LPV 9, PRO 10; composition- men 68, women 32, percentage women 32% |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court (consists of the Senate with 36 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges) |
| Judge selection and term of office | Supreme Court judges nominated by chief justice and confirmed by the Saeima; judges serve until age 70, but term can be extended 2 years; Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by Saeima members, 2 by Cabinet ministers, and 2 by plenum of Supreme Court; all judges confirmed by Saeima majority vote; Constitutional Court president and vice president serve in their positions for 3 years; all judges serve 10-year terms; mandatory retirement at age 70 |
| Subordinate courts | District (city) and regional courts |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Māris SELGA (since 16 September 2019) |
| Chancery | 2306 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 328-2840 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 328-2860 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://www2.mfa.gov.lv/en/usa |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Christopher ROBINSON (since 21 February 2023) |
| Embassy | 1 Samnera Velsa Street (former Remtes), Riga LV-1510 |
| Mailing address | 4520 Riga Place, Washington DC 20521-4520 |
| Telephone | [371] 6710-7000 |
| FAX | [371] 6710-7050 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://lv.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 3 (all cultural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Historic Center of Riga; Struve Geodetic Arc; Old town of Kuldīga |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Latvia
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International organization participation
All Important Facts about Latvia
Want to know more about Latvia? Check all different factbooks for Latvia below.
