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Liberalism in Latvia

This article gives an overview of liberalism in Latvia. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in the Saeima. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary so that parties labelled themselves as a liberal party.

Background

Latvia was one of the early post World War I nations which adopted some ideas from the 1919 Weimar Constitution. German liberal lawyer Hugo Preuß (Preuss) is often attributed as the author of the draft version of the constitution that was passed by the Weimar National Assembly, which historian William L. Shirer in a book The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich regards as "the most liberal and democratic document of its kind the twentieth century had ever seen ... full of ingenious and admirable devices which seemed to guarantee the working of an almost flawless democracy."

In Latvia some early law experts such as Kārlis Dišlers, Fēlikss Cielēns and modern day jurists agree that Weimar Constitution was underlying the wording of the Constitution of Latvia (Satversme), and in some way is a synthesis between the Weimar Constitution and Westminster system used in the United Kingdom.

History

Liberalism in Latvia was a small but important force since 1922 in Latvia. The current regained position after the re-independence of 1990. The current major liberal party is the centre-right Unity, which is also a member of the alliance New Unity.

German Baltic Democratic Party

  • 1918: Moderate German liberals in Latvia formed the German-Baltic Democratic Party (Deutsch-Baltische Demokratische Partei/Vācbaltu demokrātiskā partija)
  • 1934: The party is banned, along with all other political parties, after a coup by Kārlis Ulmanis

German Baltic Progressive Party

  • 1918: Radical German liberals in Latvia formed the German-Baltic Progressive Party (Deutsch-Baltische Fortschrittliche Partei/Vācbaltu progresÄ«vā partija)
  • 1934: The party is banned

From Democratic Party to Democratic Centre

  • 1922: Shortly after its foundation the Democratic Party (Demokrātiskā partija) merged with the Radical Democratic Party (Radikālā Demokrātiskā partija) and the People's Party (Ä»aužu partija) into the Democratic Centre (Demokrātiskais centrs). The party is led by the later presidents of Latvia, Jānis Čakste and Gustavs Zemgals.
  • 1934: The party is banned. In exile it is continued by the Liberal Party (Liberāļu partija)

Latgalian Democratic Party

  • 1920: Latgalian liberals formed the Latgalian Democratic Party (Latgales demokrātu partija)
  • 1926: The party merged into the Latgalian Democratic Farmers Union (Latgales demokrātisko zemnieku savienÄ«ba)

Mizrochi

From Democratic Centre Party to Latvian Democratic Party

Latvia's Way

New Era Party to Unity

  • 2002: New Era Party (Jaunais laiks) was formed.
  • 2008: Society for Political Change (SabiedrÄ«ba Citai Politikai) was formed.
  • 2010: JL, SCP and the conservative ⇒ Civic Union formed an electoral alliance called -'Unity (VienotÄ«ba).
  • 2011: Unity became a political party.
  • 2011: Zatlers' Reform Party (Zatlera Reformu Partija) was formed.
  • 2015: ZRP merged into Unity.
  • 2018: Unity formed with regional parties New Unity (Jaunā VienotÄ«ba).

For Latvia's Development

Liberal leaders

See also

References