Legislative power is held by a unicameral parliament elected every four years. Executive power is held by a Council of Ministers drawn from the parliament.
Electoral system
The one-hundred deputies of the parliament are elected by proportional representation with a five percent threshold.
Current (March 2017) leaders
President: Raimonds Vejonis (b.1966), since July 2015 Prime Minister: Maris Kucinskis (b.1961), since February 2016
Previous leaders:
Presidents: Andris Berzinš (2011-2015); Valdis Zatlers (2007-2011)
Prime Ministers: Laimdota Straujuma (2014-2016); Valdis Dombrovskis (2009-2014)
Joined the EU/EC
2004
Commissioner from country in Barroso II College of Commissioners, and portfolio
Andris Piebalgs (Development)
Number of MEPs
8
Turnout in 2014 EP elections (%)
30.2% (53.7% in 2009)
Member of eurozone
No
Except where a specific reference is inserted, the sources for this profile are either Neill Nugent’s book itself, or Barry Turner (ed.), The Statesman’s Yearbook Online, Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave Macmillan. If your library subscribes, you can gain access at http://www.statesmansyearbook.com
