1931 Latvian parliamentary election explained

Country:Latvia
Election Date:3–4 October 1931
Previous Election:1928
Next Election:1940
Party1:Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party
Percentage1:19.23
Seats1:21
Last Election1:25
Party2:Latvian Farmers' Union
Percentage2:12.25
Seats2:14
Last Election2:16
Percentage3:8.16
Seats3:8
Last Election3:6
Percentage4:6.33
Seats4:6
Last Election4:5
Party5:Democratic Centre (Latvia)
Percentage5:6.24
Seats5:6
Last Election5:3
Percentage6:5.79
Seats6:7
Last Election6:4
Percentage7:5.04
Seats7:5
Last Election7:3
Percentage8:4.01
Seats8:5
Last Election8:6
Percentage9:2.27
Seats9:3
Last Election9:New
Percentage10:2.19
Seats10:3
Last Election10:4
Percentage11:2.12
Seats11:2
Last Election11:1
Percentage12:2.12
Seats12:2
Last Election12:New
Percentage13:1.96
Seats13:2
Last Election13:New
Party14:Agudas Israel (Latvia)
Percentage14:1.84
Seats14:2
Last Election14:1
Percentage15:1.75
Seats15:2
Last Election15:New
Percentage16:1.57
Seats16:1
Last Election16:1
Party17:Party of the Orthodox
Percentage17:1.25
Seats17:1
Last Election17:2
Percentage18:1.22
Seats18:1
Last Election18:2
Percentage19:1.09
Seats19:1
Last Election19:2
Party20:Orthodox Voters
Percentage20:1.05
Seats20:1
Last Election20:New
Percentage21:0.92
Seats21:1
Last Election21:1
Percentage22:0.87
Seats22:1
Last Election22:New
Percentage23:0.86
Seats23:1
Last Election23:New
Percentage24:0.63
Seats24:1
Last Election24:New
Percentage25:0.62
Seats25:1
Last Election25:New
Percentage26:0.61
Seats26:1
Last Election26:1
Percentage27:0.50
Seats27:1
Last Election27:1
Prime Minister
Before Election:Kārlis Ulmanis
Before Party:Latvian Farmers' Union
After Election:Marģers Skujenieks
After Party:PA

Parliamentary elections were held in Latvia on 3 and 4 October 1931.[1] The Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party remained the largest party, winning 21 of the 100 seats.[2] They were the last elections held under the Constitution of Latvia before the 1934 coup d'état and the last competitive elections held under Latvian law until 1993.

Electoral system

For the elections the country was divided into five constituencies, electing a total of 100 MPs using proportional representation.[3] The list system used was made flexible, as voters were able to cross out candidates' names and replace them with names from other lists,[3] a system 35% of voters took advantage of.[3] Although 103 lists registered for the election, the number of competing lists dropped from 66 to 46.[4]

Notes and References

  1. [Dieter Nohlen]
  2. Nohlen & Stöver, p1143
  3. Nohlen & Stöver, p1113
  4. Nohlen & Stöver, p1105