| Country name: |
conventional long form:
Republic of Latvia
conventional short form:
Latvia
local long form:
Latvijas Republika
local short form:
Latvija
former:
Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
|
| Government type: |
parliamentary democracy
|
| Administrative divisions: |
26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Leipaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons
|
| Independence: |
18 November 1991 (from Soviet Union)
|
| National holiday: |
Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 is the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 18 November 1991 is the date of independence from the Soviet Union
|
| Constitution: |
the 1991 Constitutional Law which supplements the 1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms
|
| Legal system: |
based on civil law system
|
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
|
| Executive branch: |
chief of state:
President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)
head of government:
Prime Minister Andris BERZINS (since 5 May 2000)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament
elections:
president elected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 17 June 1999 (next to be held by NA June 2003); prime minister appointed by the president
election results:
Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA elected as a compromise candidate in second phase of balloting, second round (after five rounds in first phase failed); percent of parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 53%, Valdis BIRKAVS 20%, Ingrida UDRE 9%
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| Legislative branch: |
unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections:
last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2002)
election results:
percent of vote by party - People's Party 21%, LC 18%, TSP 14%, TB/LNNK 14%, Social Democrats 13%, New Party 7%; seats by party - People's Party 24, LC 21, TB/LNNK 17, TSP 16, Social Democrats 14, New Party 8
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| Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament)
|
| Political parties and leaders: |
Anticommunist Union or PA [P. MUCENIEKS]; Christian Democrat Union or LKDS [Talavs JUNDZIS]; Christian People's Party or KTP [Uldis AUGSTKALNS]; Democratic Party "Saimnieks" or DPS [Ziedonis CEVERS, chairman]; For Fatherland and Freedom or TB [Maris GRINBLATS], merged with LNNK; For Human Rights in a United Latvia [Janis JURKANS], a coalition of the People's Harmony Party or TSP, the Latvian Socialist Party or LSP, and the Equal Rights Movement; Green Party or LZP [Olegs BATAREVSKI]; Latvian Liberal Party or LLP [J. DANOSS]; Latvian National Conservative Party or LNNK [Andrejs KRASTINS]; Latvian National Democratic Party or LNDP [A. MALINS]; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDWU [Juris BOJARS and Janis ADAMSONS, leaders]; Latvian Unity Party or LVP [Alberis KAULS]; Latvia's Way or LC [Andrei PANTELEJEVS]; New Christian Party [Ainars SLESERS]; New Faction [Ingrida UDRE]; "Our Land" or MZ [M. DAMBEKALNE]; Party of Russian Citizens or LKPP [V. SOROCHIN, V. IVANOV]; People's Party [Andris SKELE]; Political Union of Economists or TPA [Edvins KIDE]
|
| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
NA
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| International organization participation: |
BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
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| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Aivis RONIS
chancery:
4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone:
[1] (202) 726-8213, 8214
FAX:
[1] (202) 726-6785
|
| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador James H. HOLMES
embassy:
Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga
mailing address:
American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723
telephone:
[371] 721-0005
FAX:
[371] 782-0047
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| Flag description: |
three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon
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