Latvian Green Party

Latvian Green Party Latvijas Zaļā partija
full
Leader	Raimonds Vējonis, Viesturs Silenieks
Founded	13 January 1990
Headquarters	Riga
Ideology	Green politics Green conservatism
Political position	Centre
National affiliation	Union of Greens and Farmers
European affiliation	European Green Party
International affiliation	Global Greens
European Parliament group	No MEPs
Colours	Green
Saeima	6 / 100
European Parliament	0 / 8
Website
zp.lv
Politics of Latvia Political parties Elections

The Latvian Green Party (Latvian: Latvijas Zaļā partija, LZP) is a green political party in Latvia. It was founded on 13 January 1990 and is a member of the European Green Party. Unusually for a Green party in Europe, the LZP has always been considered a centre-right party. The party has only gained representation in the Saeima by forming electoral alliances with other parties.

History

The Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia elected in 1990 contained seven Green delegates. After the Constitution of Latvia was restored, the election of the 5th Saeima (1993-1995) returned one Green deputy, Anna Seile, on the list of the right-wing Latvian National Independence Movement. In the 6th Saeima (1995-1998), there were four members: Indulis Emsis, Guntis Enins, Janis Kalvins and Janis Razna.

From 1993 until 1998, the Greens were part of the governing coalition with Indulis Emsis as Minister of State for Environmental Protection. The party lost its representation in the election to the 7th Saeima (1998–2002).

For the 2002 parliamentary election, the party formed the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) coalition with the Latvian Farmers' Union. Three members of the Green party were elected: Indulis Emsis, Arvids Ulme and Leopolds Ozolins. The ZZS joined a four-party center-right coalition government and was represented with three ministers, one of them from the Green party, Minister for the Environment Raimonds Vejonis.

In February 2004, after the breakdown of the four-party government, Indulis Emsis was appointed to form a new government and became the first head of government of a country anywhere in the world from a Green party. His minority government was forced to resign in December of the same year. A new coalition government led by the People’s Party took office, in which the party was again represented as part of the ZZS.

For the 2006 parliamentary election, the party remained part of the ZZS, and won 4 seats. The party remained part of the centre-right coalition government along with the People’s Party, Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way, and For Fatherland and Freedom. Party chairman and former prime minister Indulis Emsis became Speaker of the Saeima from November 2006 until September 2007.

Election results

Parliament (Saeima)

Election year	# of overall votes	% of overall vote	# of overall seats won	+/–	Notes
1993	149,347	13.4	1 / 100
1995	60,352	6.3	4 / 100	3
1998	22,018	2.3	0 / 100	4
2002	93,759	9.5	3 / 100	3
2006	151,595	16.8	4 / 100	1
2010	190,025	20.1	4 / 100
2011	111,955	12.2	4 / 100
2014	178,210	19.5	6 / 100	2

Chairpersons

Three co-chairpersons share the leadership position at any one time. Former chairpersons of the Latvian Green Party include:

• Olegs Batarevskis (1990–1997)
• Valts Vilnitis (1990–1991)
• Juris Zvirgzds (1990–1995)
• Gunars Lakutis (1991–1993)
• Peteris Jansons (1993–1994)
• Janis Kalvins (1994–1995)
• Indulis Emsis (from 1995)
• Ruta Bendere (1995–1996)
• Askolds Klavins (1996–2001)
• Valdis Felsbergs (1997–2003)
• Viesturs Silenieks (from 2001)
• Raimonds Vējonis (from 2003)

As of 2011, chairpersons are Viesturs Silenieks and Raimonds Vējonis.

See also

• Green party
• Green politics
• List of environmental organizations
• Politics of Latvia

External links

• Official website (Latvian)
• Infos of LGP on EFGP website