Latvian parliamentary election, 1993

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] However, only 66–75% of Latvian residents qualified to vote, with the majority of those not able to vote being Russian.^[4]

Results

Party	Votes	%	Seats
Latvian Way	362,473	32.4	36
Latvian National Independence Movement	149,347	13.4	15
National Harmony Party	134,289	12.0	13
Latvian Farmers' Union	119,116	10.7	12
Equal Rights	64,444	5.8	7
For Fatherland and Freedom	59,855	5.4	6
Christian Democratic Union	56,057	5.0	6
Democratic Center Party	53,303	4.8	5
Popular Front of Latvia	29,396	2.6	0
Green List	13,362	1.2	0
Party of Russian Citizens in Latvia	13,006	1.2	0
Latvian Democratic Workers' Party	10,509	0.9	0
Electoral Union "Happiness of Latvia"	9,814	0.9	0
Citizens Union "Our Land"	8,687	0.9	0
Economic Activity League	8,333	0.7	0
Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party	7,416	0.7	0
Anti-Communist Union	5,954	0.5	0
Republican Platform	5,075	0.5	0
Conservatives and Peasants	2,797	0.3	0
Independents' Union	1,968	0.2	0
Latvian Liberal Party	1,520	0.1	0
Latvian Unity Party	1,070	0.1	0
Liberal Alliance	525	0.0	0
Invalid/blank votes	15,888	–	–
Total	1,134,204	100	100
Registered voters/turnout	1,243,956	91.2	–
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

1. Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1122 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
2. "Election results of the 5th Saeima (parliament) of the Republic of Latvia". Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia. Retrieved 2008-07-12.
3. Nohlen & Stöver, p1123
4. "Minorities at Risk Project, Chronology for Russians in Latvia, 2004, Jun 4 - 5, 1993". Center for International Development and Conflict Management (CIDCM), University of Maryland.