1993 Latvian parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Latvia on 5 and 6 June 1993,[1] the first after independence was restored in 1991. Latvian Way emerged as the largest party in the Saeima, winning 36 of the 100 seats. A total of 23 parties participated in the elections, although only eight received 4% or more of votes and won seats.[2] Voter turnout was 91.2%, the highest in the country's history.[3] Only 66–75% of Latvian residents were citizens and qualified to vote, with the majority of those not able to vote being Russian.[4]

1993 Latvian parliamentary election
Latvia
← 19905–6 June 19931995 →

All 100 seats in the Saeima
51 seats needed for a majority
Turnout91.18% Increase (9,93 pp)
PartyLeader%Seats
LCValdis Birkavs32.4136
LNNKJoachim Siegerist13.3515
SLJānis Jurkāns12.0113
LZSJānis Kinna10.6512
Equal RightsTatjana Ždanoka5.767
TBMāris Grīnblats5.356
LKDSAndris Teikmanis5.016
DCPInts Cālītis4.775
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Results by district
Prime Minister before Prime Minister after
Ivars Godmanis
Popular Front of Latvia
Valdis Birkavs
Latvian Way

Results

PartyVotes%Seats
Latvian Way362,47332.4136
Latvian National Independence Movement149,34713.3515
Harmony for Latvia134,28912.0113
Latvian Farmers' Union119,11610.6512
Equal Rights64,4445.767
For Fatherland and Freedom59,8555.356
Christian Democratic Union56,0575.016
Democratic Center Party53,3034.775
Popular Front of Latvia29,3962.630
Green List13,3621.190
Party of Russian Citizens in Latvia13,0061.160
Latvian Democratic Labour Party10,5090.940
Electoral Union "Happiness of Latvia"9,8140.880
Citizens Union "Our Land"8,6870.780
Economic Activity League8,3330.750
Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party7,4160.660
Anti-Communist Union5,9540.530
Republican Platform5,0750.450
Conservatives and Peasants2,7970.250
Independents' Union1,9680.180
Latvian Liberal Party1,5200.140
Latvian Unity Party1,0700.100
Liberal Alliance5250.050
Total1,118,316100.00100
Valid votes1,118,31698.60
Invalid/blank votes15,8881.40
Total votes1,134,204100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,243,95691.18
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Aftermath

A coalition minority government was formed between Latvian Way and the Latvian Farmers' Union. However, the coalition only commanded the support of 48 out of the 100 MPs, meaning that it was heavily reliant on opposition parties to ensure a parliamentary majority.

References