[text_output]

Number of female heads of state to date: 2

[/text_output]

[text_output]Latvian women were granted suffrage after the proclamation of the independent state in 1918. Under the communist regime quotas of women were established for all elected bodies, ensuring women comprised about one third of deputies. As the ruling party chose all candidates in the totalitarian one-mandate elections, it is not surprising that a political career was not popular among women. During the transition to real democracy, the share of women deputies rose slightly after the completion of the first stage of transition in the mid-90s. In 1995 and 2002, Governments were formed by different coalitions and included two to four women while women were elected to the post of speaker.
› qub.ac.uk/egg/Summaries/Latvia-SummWP2.doc [DOC][/text_output][gap size=”1.313em” id=”” class=”” style=””][text_output]

The Parliament of Latvia

The Saeima is the Parliament of the Republic of Latvia. There are 100 MPs in the Saeima.

Latvia is an independent democratic republic. The sovereign power of the State of Latvia is vested in the people of Latvia. The people of Latvia exercise their will by electing one hundred representatives to the Saeima. The Saeima and the people have the right to legislate, in accordance with the procedures of and to the extent provided for by the Constitution of Latvia (the Satversme).

The current convocation – the 13th Saeima – started its work in 2018. The first Saeima was elected in 1922.
> saeima.lv/en[/text_output][gap size=”1.313em” id=”” class=”” style=””][text_output]> Breaking the Glass Ceiling in Latvia: Slow Progress for Women in 100 Years of Latvian Suffrage[/text_output]

[line id=”” class=”” style=””][text_output]

Facts and figures

Leadership and political participation – [UN Women]
IPU-UN Women in politics map – [IPU][/text_output][line id=”” class=”” style=””][text_output]

> National Women’s Days

[/text_output]