Zatlers' Reform Party
Encyclopedia
The Zatlers' Reform Party is a centre-right political party in Latvia founded by the former President Valdis Zatlers
on 23 July 2011. It has 22 seats in the Saeima
, making it the second-largest party in the legislature.
On 9 July 2011, Zatlers announced that he would found the party on 23 July 2011: the same day as the parliamentary dissolution referendum. The party was founded on 23 July and Zatlers was elected its chairman by a 251 votes to 2. Zatlers announced that the party would not cooperate with the three 'oligarch' parties – the Union of Greens and Farmers
, Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way, and the People's Party
. Two weeks after the announcement of the Reform Party, the People's Party disbanded.
A survey suggested that 33% of voters would support the new party, and as of July 2011, 17.5% would vote for them, while 52% are certain that the party will receive seats in Saeima
.
Over 1000 people have applied to join the party. the core of the party is formed by 15–20 members. The party has drafted 10 working principles. The party is holding discussions about them and has invited participation from anyone who has applied to the party.
At the 2011 parliamentary election
, the party won 22 seats, making it the second-largest party, behind Harmony Centre
. It agreed to form a coalition with Unity
and, after negotiations, the National Alliance
, with Valdis Dombrovskis
to continue as Prime Minister
and Zatlers to be Speaker of the Saeima
. On 17 October 2011, Zatlers failed to be elected Speaker, as had been agreed, and Unity's Solvita Āboltiņa
was re-elected instead. Six ZRP MPs – Klāvs Olšteins, Elīna Siliņa, Gunārs Rusiņš, Jānis Upenieks, Viktors Valainis, and Jānis Junkurs – left the party to become non-attached members.
Valdis Zatlers
Valdis Zatlers is a Latvian politician and former physician who served as the seventh president of Latvia from 2007 to 2011. He won the Latvian presidential election of 31 May 2007...
on 23 July 2011. It has 22 seats in the Saeima
Saeima
Saeima is the parliament of the Republic of Latvia. It is a unicameral parliament consisting of 100 members who are elected by proportional representation, with seats allocated to political parties which gain at least 5% of the popular vote. Elections are scheduled to be held once every four years,...
, making it the second-largest party in the legislature.
On 9 July 2011, Zatlers announced that he would found the party on 23 July 2011: the same day as the parliamentary dissolution referendum. The party was founded on 23 July and Zatlers was elected its chairman by a 251 votes to 2. Zatlers announced that the party would not cooperate with the three 'oligarch' parties – the Union of Greens and Farmers
Union of Greens and Farmers
Union of Greens and Farmers is a green/agrarian and conservative political alliance in Latvia. It consists of two political parties: Latvian Farmers' Union and the Green Party of Latvia . It is the third-largest party in the Saeima....
, Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way, and the People's Party
People's Party (Latvia)
The People's Party was a centre-right political party in Latvia. It described itself as a conservative party.Tautas partija was founded in 1998 by Andris Šķēle, a businessman and former prime minister, who was the chairman of the party until 2002. Because of Šķēle's powerful personality, many...
. Two weeks after the announcement of the Reform Party, the People's Party disbanded.
A survey suggested that 33% of voters would support the new party, and as of July 2011, 17.5% would vote for them, while 52% are certain that the party will receive seats in Saeima
Saeima
Saeima is the parliament of the Republic of Latvia. It is a unicameral parliament consisting of 100 members who are elected by proportional representation, with seats allocated to political parties which gain at least 5% of the popular vote. Elections are scheduled to be held once every four years,...
.
Over 1000 people have applied to join the party. the core of the party is formed by 15–20 members. The party has drafted 10 working principles. The party is holding discussions about them and has invited participation from anyone who has applied to the party.
At the 2011 parliamentary election
Latvian parliamentary election, 2011
An early parliamentary election was held in Latvia on 17 September 2011, following the country's first parliamentary dissolution referendum held on 23 July 2011. The last parliamentary election was held only in October 2010....
, the party won 22 seats, making it the second-largest party, behind Harmony Centre
Harmony Centre
Harmony Centre is a political alliance in Latvia. It was formed in 2005 and its member parties are the Social Democratic Party "Harmony" and the Socialist Party of Latvia Harmony Centre (abbreviated SC; ) is a political alliance in Latvia. It was formed in 2005 and its member parties are the...
. It agreed to form a coalition with Unity
Unity (Latvia)
Unity is a Latvian centre-right political party, founded as an electoral alliance of the New Era Party, the Civic Union and the Society for Other Politics on 6 March 2010...
and, after negotiations, the National Alliance
National Alliance (Latvia)
The National Alliance, officially the National Alliance "All For Latvia!" – "For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK" , abbreviated to NA, is a right-wing political party in Latvia. With fourteen seats in the Saeima, the National Alliance is the fourth-largest party in the legislature...
, with Valdis Dombrovskis
Valdis Dombrovskis
Valdis Dombrovskis is the Prime Minister of Latvia. He previously served as Latvia's Minister of Finance and as a Member of the European Parliament for the New Era Party.-Education and science career:...
to continue as Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Latvia
The Prime Minister of Latvia is the most powerful member of the Government of the Republic of Latvia, and presides over the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers...
and Zatlers to be Speaker of the Saeima
Speaker of the Saeima
The Speaker of the Saeima is the speaker of the Parliament of Latvia, the Saeima. In the case when President of Latvia is not in the country or unable to perform their duties, the Speaker acts interim President....
. On 17 October 2011, Zatlers failed to be elected Speaker, as had been agreed, and Unity's Solvita Āboltiņa
Solvita Āboltiņa
Solvita Āboltiņa is a Latvian politician. She is a member of the New Era Party and a deputy of the 9th Saeima . She began her current term in parliament on November 7, 2006, and has been speaker since 2010....
was re-elected instead. Six ZRP MPs – Klāvs Olšteins, Elīna Siliņa, Gunārs Rusiņš, Jānis Upenieks, Viktors Valainis, and Jānis Junkurs – left the party to become non-attached members.