Corruption and dissolution

Published on 30 May 2011 at 10:54

Cover

The Latvian president’s first-time request to dissolve the Parliament is “a new opportunity for Latvia” headline Diena. Announced in a speech on May 28, President Valdis Zatlers “has taken an unprecedented step in our nation’s history,” the Riga daily writes, publishing a front-page photo of demonstrators, shortly after the speech, in support of Zatlers. The president says he is motivated by a desire to fight corruption in Parliament, which recently refused to lift the parliamentary immunity of Ainārs Šlesers, leader of the Latvia’s First Party/Latvian Way (LPP/LC). Šlesers is under investigation by the anti-corruption Bureau. Voters will be called to the ballot boxes in the next two months for a referendum vote on the dissolution of Parliament. If the yes vote wins - a foregone conclusion, according to Diena – elections will be held in late August or early September. If the no vote wins, President Zatlers will have to resign. The most recent general elections were held in October 2010.

Tags

Was this article useful? If so we are delighted!

It is freely available because we believe that the right to free and independent information is essential for democracy. But this right is not guaranteed forever, and independence comes at a cost. We need your support in order to continue publishing independent, multilingual news for all Europeans.

Discover our subscription offers and their exclusive benefits and become a member of our community now!

Are you a news organisation, a business, an association or a foundation? Check out our bespoke editorial and translation services.

Support independent European journalism

European democracy needs independent media. Join our community!

On the same topic