36 municipalities (novadi, singular - novads) and 7 state cities (valstpilsetu pasvaldibas, singular valstspilsetas pasvaldiba)
municipalities: Adazi, Aizkraukle, Aluksne, Augsdaugava, Balvi, Bauska, Cesis, Dienvidkurzeme, Dobele, Gulbene, Jekabpils, Jelgava, Kekava, Kraslava, Kuldiga, Limbazi, Livani, Ludza, Madona, Marupe, Ogre, Olaine, Preili, Rezekne, Ropazi, Salaspils, Saldus, Saulkrasti, Sigulda, Smiltene, Talsi, Tukums, Valka, Valmiera, Varaklani, Ventspils
cities: Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Rezekne, Riga, Ventspils
White wagtail (bird); national colors: maroon, white.
Title | "Dievs, sveti Latviju!" (God Bless Latvia) |
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Lyric/music | Karlis BAUMANIS |
Date of Independence | 18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 4 May 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union) |
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National holiday | Independence Day (Republic of Latvia Proclamation Day), 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 was the date Latvia established its statehood and its concomitant independence from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 was the date it declared the restoration of Latvian statehood and its concomitant independence from the Soviet Union |
Legal system | civil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices |
International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
Constitution | |
History | Several previous (pre-1991 independence); note - following the restoration of independence in 1991, parts of the 1922 constitution were reintroduced 4 May 1990 and fully reintroduced 6 July 1993 |
Amendments | Proposed by two thirds of Parliament members or by petition of one tenth of qualified voters submitted through the president; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in each of three readings; amendment of constitutional articles, including national sovereignty, language, the parliamentary electoral system, and constitutional amendment procedures, requires passage in a referendum by majority vote of at least one half of the electorate; amended several times, last in 2019 |
Citizenship | |
Citizenship by birth | no |
Citizenship by descent only | at least one parent must be a citizen of Latvia |
Dual citizenship recognized | no |
Residency requirement for naturalization | 5 years |
Executive Branch | |
Chief of state | President Edgars RINKEVICS (since 8 July 2023) |
Head of government | Prime Minister Evika SILINA (since 15 September 2023) |
Cabinet | Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by Parliament |
Elections/appointments | president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 31 May 2023 (next to be held in 2027); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Parliament |
Election results | 2023: Edgars RINKEVICS elected president in the third round; Parliament vote - Edgars RINKEVICS (Unity Party) 52, Uldis Pīlēns (independent) 25; Evika SILINA confirmed as prime minister 53-39 2019: Egils LEVITS elected president; Parliament vote - Egils LEVITS (independent) 61, Didzis SMITS (KPV LV) 24, Juris JANSONS (independent) 8; Krisjanis KARINS confirmed as prime minister 61-39 |
Legislative branch | |
Description | Unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) |
Elections | Last held on 1 October 2022 (next to be held no later than 3 October 2026) |
Election results | Percent of vote by party - JV 19.2%, ZZS 12.6%, AS 11.1%, NA 9.4%, S! 6.9%, LPV 6.3%, PRO 6.2%; seats by party - JV 26, ZZS 16, AS 15, NA 13, S! 11, LPV 9, PRO 10; composition- men 68, women 32, percentage women 32% |
Judicial branch | |
Highest court(s) | Supreme Court (consists of the Senate with 36 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges) |
Judge selection and term of office | Supreme Court judges nominated by chief justice and confirmed by the Saeima; judges serve until age 70, but term can be extended 2 years; Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by Saeima members, 2 by Cabinet ministers, and 2 by plenum of Supreme Court; all judges confirmed by Saeima majority vote; Constitutional Court president and vice president serve in their positions for 3 years; all judges serve 10-year terms; mandatory retirement at age 70 |
Subordinate courts | District (city) and regional courts |
Diplomatic representation in the US | |
Chief of mission | Ambassador Elita KUZMA (since 18 September 2024) |
Chancery | 2306 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
Telephone | [1] (202) 328-2840 |
FAX | [1] (202) 328-2860 |
Email address and website | [email protected] https://www2.mfa.gov.lv/en/usa |
Diplomatic representation from the US | |
Chief of mission | Ambassador Christopher ROBINSON (since 21 February 2023) |
Embassy | 1 Samnera Velsa Street (former Remtes), Riga LV-1510 |
Mailing address | 4520 Riga Place, Washington DC 20521-4520 |
Telephone | [371] 6710-7000 |
FAX | [371] 6710-7050 |
Email address and website | [email protected] https://lv.usembassy.gov/ |
National heritage | |
Total World Heritage Sites | 3 (all cultural) |
Selected World Heritage Site locales | Historic Center of Riga; Struve Geodetic Arc; Old town of Kuldīga |
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