2011 Latvian presidential election explained

Election Name:2011 Latvian presidential election
Country:Latvia
Type:presidential
Vote Type:Popular
Previous Election:2007 Latvian presidential election
Previous Year:2007
Next Election:2015 Latvian presidential election
Next Year:2015
Image1:Flickr_-_Saeima_-_10.Saeimas_deputāts_Andris_Bērziņš_(ievēlēts_no_Vidzemes_apgabala).jpg
Image1 Size:x190px
Candidate1:Andris Bērziņš
Electoral Vote1:53
Image2 Size:x190px
Candidate2:Valdis Zatlers
Electoral Vote2:41
President of Latvia
After Election:Andris Bērziņš

Indirect presidential elections were held in Latvia on 2 June 2011. Incumbent president Valdis Zatlers was standing again, as well as Andris Bērziņš (Saeima member for the Union of Greens and Farmers[1]), a former head of SEB Unibanka (not to be confused with Andris Bērziņš, former PM from Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way); Bērziņš was nominated by five Saeima members of the Union of Greens and Farmers just two days before the nomination deadline,[2] although the party was assumed to back Zatlers for re-election.[3] [4]

In the first round, Bērziņš got 50 votes in favour and 48 against, while Zatlers got 43 in favour and 55 against (99 lawmakers cast votes, but one was invalid), meaning none was elected;[1] a second round was held later on the same day, with Bērziņš winning the election 53 to 44 votes in favour; Zatlers got 41 to 56 votes.[5]

Analysts attributed Zatlers' defeat to his decision to call Latvia's first parliamentary dissolution referendum on 28 May 2011.

Notes and References

  1. https://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5h7Fn4phdTPXHp45GeSmGMx6DhTiA?docId=7021348
  2. Web site: Alla Petrova . Zatlers and Berzins official candidates for president in Latvia . The Baltic Course . 2011-05-25 . 2011-12-06.
  3. Web site: Latvian president dissolves parliament . https://web.archive.org/web/20121107210932/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-05/29/c_13899139.htm . dead . November 7, 2012 . News.xinhuanet.com . 2011-12-06.
  4. Web site: Andris Straumanis . Second candidate emerges to challenge Zatlers for president's job . Latviansonline.com . 2011-12-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111001021130/http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7505/ . 2011-10-01 .
  5. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/challenger-andris-berzins-wins-latvias-presidential-election/2011/06/02/AGveQHHH_story.html