Mathematically speaking, there is a potential for enough signatures to be collected to initiate the referendum for the dissolution of the 14th Saeima, said Riga Stradins University lecturer, politologist Lelde Metla-Rozentāle.
She said the currently observed activity can be explained by the fact that the signature collection was initiated by two parties represented in the Saeima that have their own electorate. Latvia in First Place, for example, received votes from more than 57 000 citizens in the 14th Saeima elections. For Stability party received 62 000 votes.
Authors of the initiative come from several parties that were not elected to the Saeima but still received many votes. Sovereign power political party, for example, received votes from more than 20 000 citizens. This means there are approximately 160 000 voters in Latvia that had previously voted for the parties that are behind the new Saeima dissolution initiative.
“In this case we can expect activity, because these parties have their own electorate. This is not about a single person or a small group of enthusiast that are behind the signature collection procedure.
It was initiated by relatively large and capable parties that are in the parliament,” said Metla-Rozentāle.
She said that if parties that initiated signature collection work on motivating their electorate, and, assuming voters that previously voted for a different party but have since become disappointed in them
can theoretically join the initiative and may collectively secure 154 241 votes.
At the same time, Metla-Rozentāle said the current number of collected signatures – slightly more than 15 000 – is relatively insignificant when compared to the total number of these parties’ supporters.
According to information from Latvija.lv portal, on the 12th of November there were more than 15 300 signatures confirmed collected for the initiative to commence a referendum to dissolve the 14th Saeima.
As previously reported, Latvian citizens can sign the initiative both in person, by coming to their local municipal administration, orphan’s court, notary or county and municipal council, as well as Latvian embassies abroad.
Signature collection will continue for a year. In order for signature collection to be considered successful and for the referendum for the dissolution of the 14th Saeima to be organised, at least 10% of Latvian citizens (154 241) aged 18 years or older with voting rights have to provide their signature.
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