Latvia is a democratic parliamentary republic. The Saeima is the national parliament: voters elect its members, and it adopts laws, approves the government and elects the President. The government manages public administration and implements policy, while courts apply the law independently. The President represents Latvia, performs constitutional functions and has powers defined by the Satversme, Latvia's constitution. Elections connect public choice with the exercise of state power. Saeima elections determine the composition of the national parliament. Municipal elections choose local representatives responsible for matters such as local services and development. European Parliament elections choose Latvia's representatives at European Union level. These elections serve different institutions and responsibilities, so a party's role at national level does not automatically determine its influence in a municipality or in the European Parliament.
Politics in Latvia
Politics in Latvia combines democratic elections with state institutions that make laws, govern, administer justice and manage public services. Citizens elect representatives to the Saeima, municipalities and the European Parliament, while the Saeima elects the President. Municipalities handle many decisions close to daily life.
Tip
Start by assigning a political question in Latvia to the correct level: national, municipal or European. This prevents judging the wrong institution or expecting one election to decide matters handled elsewhere.