1993 Latvian parliamentary election explained

Election Name:1993 Latvian parliamentary election
Country:Latvia
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1990
Next Election:1995
Seats For Election:All 100 seats in the Saeima
Majority Seats:51
Turnout:91.18% (9,93 pp)
Election Date:5–6 June 1993
First Election:yes
Leader1:Valdis Birkavs
Party1:LC
Last Election1:New
Seats1:36
Percentage1:32.41
Leader2:Joachim Siegerist
Party2:LNNK
Last Election2:New
Seats2:15
Percentage2:13.35
Leader3:Jānis Jurkāns
Party3:SL
Last Election3:New
Seats3:13
Percentage3:12.01
Leader4:Jānis Kinna
Party4:LZS
Last Election4:New
Seats4:12
Percentage4:10.65
Leader5:Tatjana Ždanoka
Party5:Equal Rights
Last Election5:New
Seats5:7
Percentage5:5.76
Leader6:Māris Grīnblats
Party6:TB
Last Election6:New
Seats6:6
Percentage6:5.35
Leader7:Andris Teikmanis
Party7:LKDS
Color7:
  1. 313072
Last Election7:New
Seats7:6
Percentage7:5.01
Leader8:Ints Cālītis
Party8:DCP
Last Election8:New
Seats8:5
Percentage8:4.77
Map:Vēlētāju Karte (1993).svg
Prime Minister
Before Election:Ivars Godmanis
Before Party:Popular Front of Latvia
After Election:Valdis Birkavs
After Party:Latvian Way

Parliamentary elections were held in Latvia on 5 and 6 June 1993,[1] the first after independence was restored in 1991. Latvian Way emerged as the largest party in the Saeima, winning 36 of the 100 seats. A total of 23 parties participated in the elections, although only eight received 4% or more of votes and won seats.[2] Voter turnout was 91.2%, the highest in the country's history.[3] Only 66–75% of Latvian residents were citizens and qualified to vote, with the majority of those not able to vote being Russian.[4]

Aftermath

A coalition minority government was formed between Latvian Way and the Latvian Farmers' Union. However, the coalition only commanded the support of 48 out of the 100 MPs, meaning that it was heavily reliant on opposition parties to ensure a parliamentary majority.

Notes and References

  1. [Dieter Nohlen]
  2. https://www.cvk.lv/en/elections/saeima-elections/5th-saeima-elections 5th Saeima Elections
  3. Nohlen & Stöver, p1123
  4. Web site: Minorities at Risk Project, Chronology for Russians in Latvia, 2004, Jun 4 – 5, 1993 . Center for International Development and Conflict Management (CIDCM), University of Maryland.