0000000000266180
AUTHOR
Inga Vilka
Latvia: Experiments and Reforms in Decentralization
Abstract Latvia is an independent country which was founded in 1918. Its independence was interrupted by the Soviet Union and was renewed in 1991. It joined the European Union in 2004. Latvia is a sovereign, independent, unitary, and indivisible nation-state. Its government is republic and it is organized on the principle of separation and balance of the legislative, executive, and judicial powers. This article focuses on Latvia and its decentralization reforms. Latvia has a long history of development of local government. From 1918 to 1934, Latvia had a positive experience of creating democratic society and local governments; however the fruits of these efforts were lost after the formatio…
The Development of Democracy and Local Governance in Latvia
The traditions of autonomous local governments in Latvia between the two world wars were interrupted in the Soviet period. The local council elections held in December 1989 were the first democratic elections in the postwar period. The elections were competitive, with more than one candidate running for each — post, and a majority system was implemented. Local government laws were passed in February 1990 when the Supreme Council of the Latvian SSR government adopted three separate laws on district, city and rural local governments. A short time before the re-establishment of the independent Republic of Latvia — a process in which the local governments played a great role (before Parliament …
Latvijos Savivaldybių rinkimų palyginimas su kitomis Europos šalimis
Latvijos Savivaldybių rinkimų palyginimas su kitomis Europos šalimis. On 1 June, 2013 local elections in 119 local councils took place in Latvia. The elections of 2013 were first after completion of the administrative territorial reform in Latvia, average voter turnout was 46%, lowest since Independence restoration in Latvia. Just before the elections Minister of Regional Development and Local Government initiated debates over t he structure of councils and put forth a proposal to reduce the number of councillors in local councils. Some small changes in local government elections were made and the issue stays on a political agenda. The paper deals with local government election practices in…
Local Government Reforms in Latvia, 1990-2003: Transition to a Democratic Society
This case study of Latvian local governments focuses on the qualitative aspects of reform legislation passed and implemented between 1990 and 2003 as the best available measures of changes made. Special attention is given to historical influences and inherited Soviet practices, the uncertain and conflicting value systems of reformers, and a gradual shift to concerns about the services provided. Power relationships are examined, together with the funding of local governments and minority relations. It is anticipated that in 2005 Latvia will adopt new elected regional development boards to work with the EU and other external institutions, leading to more democratic and cooperative modes of go…
Local Government in the Baltic States: Similar but Different
Abstract The administrative–territorial structure of local government in the three Baltic countries is very different. In Lithuania, administrative–territorial reorganisation was achieved quickly using command methods, by removing local governments at the municipal level, leaving local governments at county level with average population over 60,000, among the largest in Europe. In Estonia, local government exists in town and rural municipalities, but many are very small. There are administrative structures at county level, but these are part of local state administration, without elections. In Latvia, there are two levels of elected local government, but the municipalities at the lower leve…
Assessment of Socio-Economic Status Relevance for Latvian Electoral Participation
In many countries, there is increasing concern about the decrease in the level of electoral participation in all types of elections. The situation in Latvia is not an exception. Despite the fact that the first scientific studies of electoral participation analysis date back to the 1940s–1950s, it is still relevant today to understand and explain the factors that affect the citizen’s choice (not) to participate in elections. The goal of this chapter was to find the factors that influence participation in elections in Latvia, and indirectly how it may affect local government and urban governance processes in the country. Using data from two elections in Latvia—local elections in 2013 and elec…