2023 Latvian presidential election

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2023 Latvian presidential election
← 2019 31 May 2023
  Edgars Rinkēvičs 2019 (cropped).jpg Uldis Pīlēns, LTV Rīta Panorāmā 14-04-2023.png
Candidate Edgars Rinkēvičs Uldis Pīlēns
Party Unity Independent
Electoral vote 52 35
President of Latvia before election

Egils Levits
Independent

Elected President of Latvia

Edgars Rinkēvičs
Unity

Indirect presidential elections were held in Latvia on 31 May 2023 to elect the President of Latvia, who is the country's head of state.[1][2]

Rinkēvičs was elected President of Latvia on 31 May 2023 after three rounds of voting by the Saeima - the Parliament of Latvia.[3][4]

Background[edit]

In late 2022, political scientist and historian Gatis Krūmiņš stated that the 2023 presidential election could cause friction in the Second Kariņš cabinet and potentially lead to its downfall due to disagreements on who should be the presidential candidate.[5] Ultimately failing to reach agreement on a candidate, the three government parties – New Unity, the United List, and the National Alliance – presented two presidential candidates, both in April 2023. The United List named their candiate; the founder of the party alliance, entrepreneur Uldis Pīlēns,[6] while New Unity and the National Alliance endorsed the reelection of the incumbent president, Egils Levits.[7]

Voting system[edit]

Before the first round of the presidential election, the political parties represented in the Saeima nominate their candidate.[8]

The President of the Republic is elected in the first round if he receives the absolute majority of the deputies, i.e. 51 votes out of 100.[8]

In case of failure, another round is organized with the same candidates or different ones, and under the same conditions. If no one is elected, others rounds are held until a candidate receives 51 votes and becomes President of Latvia. The Speaker of the Saeima chairs the electoral college.[8]

Candidates[edit]

In the fall of 2022, entrepreneur Uldis Pīlēns was the Prime Minister candidate of the United List, a party alliance that he founded. He, however, did not run in the 2022 Latvian parliamentary election.[9] Pīlēns confirmed his presidential run on 11 April 2023. Alongside the announcement of his candidacy, he was endorsed by the United List, who will also be officially nominating him in the elections in the Saeima. Subsequently, his candidacy was also endorsed by Latvia First, whose stated main priority is to prevent the reelection of the incumbent president, Egils Levits.[6]

The incumbent President of Latvia since 2019, Egils Levits, announced his candidacy on 19 April 2023 at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš of the New Unity party alliance, who voiced his support for Levits' reelection. The National Alliance had previously stated that they would both support and officially nominate Levits for the election in the Saeima.[10][11]

Official nominations for the presidency in the Saeima began on 10 May, where Pīlēns was the first to submit his candidacy.[12] On the same day, however, Levits unexpectedly withdrew his candidacy, citing a "currently developing de facto coalition among pro-Kremlin-oriented and oligarch-linked political forces". He also encouraged the only other candidate at the time, Uldis Pīlēns, to also step aside in order for the government coalition to find and put forward one common candidate.[13][14] On 11th May, The Progressives announced its presidential candidate as diaspora activist Elīna Pinto,[15] and on the same day Edgars Rinkēvičs, the then Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, announced his candidacy, with New Unity unanimously supporting it.[16]

Candidate Party Endorsing party Candidacy announced References
Uldis Pīlēns, LTV Rīta Panorāmā 14-04-2023.png Uldis Pīlēns
Entrepreneur, founder of United List 		Independent[a] United List
(also supported by Latvia First) 		11 April 2023 [6][18]
Blank2x3.svg Elīna Pinto
Civic and diaspora activist 		Independent The Progressives 11 May 2023 [19]
Edgars Rinkēvičs 2019 (cropped).jpg Edgars Rinkēvičs
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia (2011–2023) 		New Unity New Unity 11 May 2023 [20]

Withdrawn candidates[edit]

Candidate Party Endorsing party Candidacy announced Candidacy recinded References
Egilu Levitu (48903396252).jpg Egils Levits
Jurist, President of Latvia (2019–) 		Independent National Alliance
(also supported by New Unity) 		17 April 2023 10 May 2023 [7][21][22]
Politics of Latvia
Coat of arms of Latvia.svg
Constitution
Government
Saeima
Elections
Political parties
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations

Results[edit]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Edgars RinkēvičsUnity5259.77
Uldis PīlēnsIndependent[a]3540.23
Elīna PintoIndependent00.00
Total87100.00
Registered voters/turnout100–

Aftermath[edit]

Reactions[edit]

In Latvia[edit]

Immediately after being elected, Rinkēvičs gave a speech in which he thanked the Saeima for having trust in him and stated he would do everything in his power so Latvia "blossoms" and has a unified society. He said he was ready to cooperate with the Saeima and government, and in a later press conference stated he would not change Latvia's foreign policy.[4] Incumbent preseident Egils Levits congratulated Rinkēvičs, stating he was "sure that Latvia will be in safe hands for the next four years" and wishing him good luck.[23]

Abroad[edit]

After Rinkēvičs was declared President, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated him, stating that he looked forward to continuing close cooperation with Latvia. Rinkēvičs was also congratulated by President of Estonia Alar Karis, who stated he was "happy to continue close cooperation" between the two countries and "[hoped] to see [him] soon" when he visits Estonia.[23]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b Pīlēns is the founder and informal leader of United List, but is officially an independent[17]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Latvia | Whitehouse Communications". whitehousecomms.com. 2016-12-01. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  2. ^ "Valsts prezidenta vēlēšanas notiks 31. maijā; Levita pārvēlēšanas izredzes – vēl neskaidras" (in Latvian). 16 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Edgars Rinkevics elected president of Latvia". Reuters. 2023-05-31. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  4. ^ a b "Edgars Rinkēvičs elected President of Latvia". Latvian Public Broadcasting. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ "Political scientist: Kariņš could have longest and shortest governments in modern Latvian history". eng.lsm.lv. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  6. ^ a b c "Pīlēns kandidēs uz Valsts prezidenta amatu". Delfi. April 11, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Levits confirms presidential run". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c "FACTBOX - Presidential Election Procedure In Latvia". UrduPoint. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  9. ^ Līcīte, Madara (July 20, 2022). "Uzņēmējs Pīlēns būs «Apvienotā saraksta» premjera amata kandidāts, bet Saeimas vēlēšanās nekandidēs" (in Latvian). Public Broadcasting of Latvia. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  10. ^ "National Alliance supports potential second term for President Levits". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  11. ^ Līcīte, Madara (April 17, 2023). "Nacionālā apvienība virzīs Levitu pārvēlēšanai par Valsts prezidentu" (in Latvian). Public Broadcasting of Latvia. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  12. ^ "Pīlēns' presidential candidacy officially submitted". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  13. ^ "Levits will not run for second term as Latvian President". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  14. ^ "Levits tomēr nekandidēs uz otru termiņu Valsts prezidenta amatā" (in Latvian). Public Broadcasting of Latvia. May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  15. ^ "Progressive Party's presidential candidate – European official Elīna Pinto,". Baltic News Network. The Baltic News Network. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  16. ^ Tanner, Jari. "Latvia's foreign minister to run in presidential election". ABC News. American Broadcasting Company. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Uldis Pīlēns skaidro, kāpēc vēlas kļūt par Valsts prezidentu" (in Latvian). jauns.lv. April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023. Man nav oficiālas saistības ar partiju, neesmu arī AS valdē, ko veido trīs partijas [I do not have an official connection with the party, I also do not sit on the board of AS, which consists of three parties]
  18. ^ "Šlesers pārliecināts, ka par Pīlēnu nobalsos visas opozīcijas partijas" (in Latvian). Jauns.lv. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  19. ^ "«Progresīvie» prezidenta amatam virza biedrības «esiLV» vadītāju Elīnu Pinto" (in Latvian). Public Broadcasting of Latvia. May 11, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  20. ^ Līcīte, Madara (May 11, 2023). "«Jaunā Vienotība» prezidenta amatam virza Rinkēviču" (in Latvian). Public Broadcasting of Latvia. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  21. ^ "Levits will not run for second term as Latvian President". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  22. ^ "Levits tomēr nekandidēs uz otru termiņu Valsts prezidenta amatā" (in Latvian). Public Broadcasting of Latvia. May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  23. ^ a b "International congratulations for President-elect Rinkēvičs". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. Public Broadcasting of Latvia. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
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