Latvia

B

Political Parties

There are about 40 registered parties and political groupings active in Latvia. Since the 2006 parliamentary election the main parties represented in the Saeima have included: the People’s Party (Tautas Partija); the Union of Greens and Farmers (Zalo un Semnieku Savieniba); centrist New Era Party (Jaunais Laiks); Harmony Centre (Saskanas Centrs); a coalition between Latvia’s First Party (Latvijas Pirmâ Partija) and Latvian Way (Latvijas Ceïš); the conservative For Fatherland and Freedom (Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK); and For Human Rights in United Latvia (Par Cilveka Tiesibam Vienota Latvija).

C

Judiciary

The Supreme Court, resident in Riga, is the highest organ of justice in Latvia; all appointments of the justices have to be approved by the Saeima. On a lower level, there exist regional, district, and city courts. The Constitutional Court, established in 1996, consists of seven judges approved by the Saeima; three of them are delegated by the Saeima itself, two are candidates of the government, and the remaining two are nominated by the Supreme Court.

D

Local Government

A local government reform, aimed at a wide-reaching democratization and decentralization of power, was launched in 1993. The autonomy of local administration was granted in the 1994 Law on Local Government; in 1996 the Saeima approved the European Charter of Local Self-Government, which has been implemented almost entirely. Local government in Latvia operates on two levels, municipal and regional. On the municipal level, there are 7 city municipalities, 70 town municipalities, and 486 rural municipalities. Municipal councils are responsible, in the main, for public order, transport, sanitation, and the construction and maintenance of buildings. On the regional level, there are 7 republican cities and 26 districts (rajons); regional councils are responsible for public health, protection of natural reserves and cultural monuments, and prevention of natural disasters. Cities are thus represented on both levels of local government. Members of the councils are elected for four-year terms in equal, direct, and proportional elections. The Union of Local and Regional Government of Latvia (ULRGL) represents local governments in their relations with the state.

E

Health and Welfare

Life expectancy at birth (2008 estimate) is 66.7 years for males and 77.3 for females. In 2001, 11 per cent of total government expenditure was spent on health care; there were 319 people to every doctor in 2006. Infant mortality in 2008 was 9 deaths per 1,000 live births.

F

Defence

In 2003, Latvia’s annual defence budget was an estimated US$194 million. The republic has armed forces totalling 5,238 personnel, including 1,600 conscripts aged 19 who serve for a period of 12 months. Latvia aims to phase out conscription in 2007. The country has an army of 1,817, a navy of 685, and an air force of 255 personnel. In addition there is a border guard of 3,200. In 1998, Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania formed a joint naval unit BALTRON. In November 2002 Latvia was formally invited to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); it became a member in April 2004.