Social Democratic Party (Latvia) Explained

Country:Latvia
Social Democratic Party
Native Name:Sociāldemokrātiskā partija
Abbreviation:SDS (2002–2008)
SDP (2008–2010)
Leader:Egils Rutkovskis
Founder:Egils Baldzēns
Split:Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party
Merged:Social Democratic Party "Harmony"
Ideology:Social democracy
Position:Centre-left
National:Harmony Centre (2009–2010)
International:Socialist International[1]
Youth Wing:Jaunatnes Sociāldemokrātiskā Savienība
Colours: Red
Headquarters:Riga, Basteja bulvārī 12 (2.stāvā), LV-1050.
Website:socialdemokrati.lv

The Social Democratic Party (Latvian: Sociāldemokrātiskā partija, SDP; formerly Social Democratic Union, Latvian: Sociāldemokrātu savienība, SDS) was a political party in Latvia formed by a splinter group from the Latvian Social Democratic Labour Party (LSDSP) after the leader of the LSDSP faction in the Saeima, Egils Baldzēns, lost to Juris Bojārs in the elections for party chairman on 27 October 2001. The major factor in the schism was the increasing intimacy between the LSDSP and the For Human Rights in United Latvia Bloc, considered to be excessively pro-Russian by the more nationalist members in Baldzēns' breakaway wing of the party. The newly formed SDS held its founding congress in Riga on 24 March 2002. In the 2002 election, the party won 1.5% of the popular vote and no seats. The last leader of the party was Egils Rutkovskis.

In January 2009, the party joined the Harmony Centre coalition.[2] It merged into the Harmony party in 2010.

Election results

Legislative elections

ElectionParty leaderPerformanceRankGovernment
Votes%± ppSeats+/–
2002Egils Baldzēns15,1621.53NewNew10th
2006Pēteris SalkazanovsDid not contest
2010Egils Rutkovskis251,40026.61 25.08 0 2nd

European Parliament elections

ElectionParty leaderPerformanceRank
Votes%± ppSeats+/–
2004Pēteris Salkazanovs1,9880.35NewNew16th
2009Alfrēds Rubiks154,89419.93 19.58 0 2nd

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sociāldemokrātu Savienība - SDS . www.socialdemokrati.lv . 12 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050223104326/http://www.socialdemokrati.lv/lv/internacionale.php . 23 February 2005 . dead.
  2. http://www.saskanascentrs.lv/index.php?text&id=39&level=1&cid=482&do=news http://www.saskanascentrs.lv/index.php?text&id=39&level=1&cid=482&do=news