Latvian political parties consolidate ahead of elections

Mar 03, 2010
Oskars Magone

President Valdis Zatlers (right) said after meeting the prime minister that he approved of the recent trend toward party consolidation.

RIGA - Latvia's numerous political parties have begun to band together ahead of elections later this year.

Support for major Lativan parties has fallen off drastically over the past year as voters become increasingly frustrated by the ongoing economic crisis. Some of the largest parties in the current parliament are even in danger of failing to cross the 5% threshold needed to win seats.

In the most recent of the agreements, the People's Party - which currently has the highest level of representation in parliament - has opted to join forces with opposition Latvia's First Party/Latvia's Way.

New Era - the party of current Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis - has also recently announced its intentions to run alongside two newly formed parties: Civic Union, and Society for Different Politics. Neither of the new parties have yet taken part in a full election cycle.

President Valdis Zatlers on Wednesday expressed his support for the moves toward consolidation, saying it would improve the quality of parliament.

"'The growth of a small party into a large party is a positive process,'' Zatlers told journalists after a meeting with Dombrovskis.

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