Elections
In the constitutional congress of modern Latvia (The Highest Board of Latvia Republic, 1990-1993), there were seven Green delegates.
In the first elected parliament of independent Latvia (the fifth Saeima, 1993-1995), there was one Green deputy (Anna Seile). In the 6th Saeima (1995-1998), the Latvian Green party was represented by four members: Indulis Emsis, Guntis Enins, Janis Kalvins and Janis Razna.
From 1993 to 1998, Greens were part of the governing coalition with Indulis Emsis as minister for the environment.
In the 7th Saeima (1998-2002), Greens weren't represented.
At the legislative elections, 5 October 2002, it was part of the Union of Greens and Farmers (Zaļo un Zemnieku savienība) coalition, that won 9.5% of popular vote and 12 out of 100 seats. Three members of the Green party of Latvia were elected: Indulis Emsis, Arvids Ulme and Leopolds Ozolins. The UGF joined a four-party center-right coalition government and was represented there with three ministers, one of them the Green minister for the environment, Raimonds Vejonis.
In February 2004, after the breakdown of the four-party government, Indulis Emsis was appointed to form a new government and became the first Green prime minister of Latvia. His government was the first government in the world to be headed by a member of a Green party. His minority government was forced to resign in the fall of the same year. A new coalition government led by the People’s Party took office, in which the Green Party was involved as part of the Unions of Greens and Farmers.
At the 2006 elections, the Green Party remained part of the Union of Greens and Farmers, which won 16,7% of popular vote and 18 (four for the Greens) out of 100 seats (one of them is taken by the former Waffen SS assistant officer Visvaldis Lacis). The party remained part of the coalition government along with the People’s Party, Latvian First Party/Latvian Way, and the Fatherland and Freedom Party. Green party chairman and former prime minister Indulis Emsis became speaker of Parliament in November 2006. Retired on September 21, 2007
Read more about this topic: Latvian Green Party
Famous quotes containing the word elections:
“In my public statements I have earnestly urged that there rested upon government many responsibilities which affect the moral and spiritual welfare of our people. The participation of women in elections has produced a keener realization of the importance of these questions and has contributed to higher national ideals. Moreover, it is through them that our national ideals are ingrained in our children.”
—Herbert Hoover (18741964)
“Apparently, a democracy is a place where numerous elections are held at great cost without issues and with interchangeable candidates.”
—Gore Vidal (b. 1925)