| Election Name: | 1996 Latvian presidential election |
| Country: | Latvia |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1993 Latvian presidential election |
| Previous Year: | 1993 |
| Next Election: | 1999 Latvian presidential election |
| Next Year: | 1999 |
| Election Date: | June 18, 1996 |
| Image1: | Guntis Ulmanis 1998.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Guntis Ulmanis |
| Party1: | Latvian Farmers' Union |
| Electoral Vote1: | 53 |
| Nominee2: | Ilga Kreituse |
| Party2: | Democratic Party "Saimnieks" |
| Electoral Vote2: | 25 |
| Image3: | 3x4.svg |
| Nominee3: | Imants Liepa |
| Party3: | People's Movement for Latvia |
| Electoral Vote3: | 14 |
| Image4: | Alfreds Rubiks 2012.jpg |
| Nominee4: | Alfrēds Rubiks |
| Party4: | Socialist Party of Latvia |
| Electoral Vote4: | 5 |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| Map Alt: | Votes by MPs |
| President | |
| Before Election: | Guntis Ulmanis |
| Before Party: | Latvian Farmers' Union |
| After Election: | Guntis Ulmanis |
| After Party: | Latvian Farmers' Union |
The 1996 presidential elections in Latvia took place on June 18, 1996. Guntis Ulmanis was re-elected President of Latvia . According to the Satversme, the President was elected by the 6th Saeima.
| Candidate | Party | |
|---|---|---|
| Guntis Ulmanis | Latvian Farmers' Union, Christian Democratic Union, Latgale Democrats Party | |
| Ilga Kreituse | Democratic Party "Saimnieks" | |
| Imants Liepa | People's Movement for Latvia | |
| Alfrēds Rubiks | Socialist Party of Latvia |
There was a scandal surrounding the election due to the fact that one of the nominated presidential candidates, Alfrēds Rubiks, was in prison at that time, thus there was an active debate on this issue in the previous Saeima sittings before the presidential elections. It was also decided to extend the president's term from three to four years, but only from the next presidential election onwards. In the first round of voting, one of the candidates, incumbent President Guntis Ulmanis collected the necessary number of votes to be re-elected President of Latvia.[1]