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contact persons

Party Co-chairmans	Viesturs SILENIEKS Raimonds VEJONIS Indulis EMSIS
Office manager:	Arnis LUHSE (Contact at party office)
EGP Delegate	Viesturs SILENIEKS (Contact at party office)

Greens in Government

Raimonds VEJONIS, Minister of Environment

raimonds.vejonis@vidm.gov.lv

Parliamentary Group

Members of the national parliament

 

 

party profile

The idea, that there is necessary political organisation who could represent the Green logic, was born in the firsts conference of Green logic on the spring of 1989, in Latvia. So, in 13th January of 1990 was founded the "Latvian Green party", which is one of the very first morbid growth political parties in the history of reestablished Latvia. At the moment of founding there were 123 members. Now the total size of members is 450, from whom 154 are woman. From all the members 74 are younger than 30, 227 are from 31 to 60 years old and 51 member is older than 60. Latvian Green party have the biggest educational level between all other parties in Latvia.

There was created very democratic structure by the moment of founding the party - three co-chairmans, without chairman, therefore it is absolutely impossible to be as one-person organisation. There have been 10 co-chairmans from the day of founding - Olegs Batarevskis (1990 - 1997), Valts Vilnitis (1990 - 1991), Juris Zvirgzds (1990 - 1995), Gunars Lakutis (1991 - 1993), Peteris Jansons (1993 - 1994), Janis Kalvins (1994 - 1995), Indulis Emsis (from 1995), Ruta Bendere (1995 - 1996), Askolds Klavins (from 1996 - 2001), Valdis Felsbergs (1997-2003), Viesturs Silenieks (from 2001), Raimons Vejonis(from2003) Now, as You see, co-chairmans are Indulis Emsis, Viesturs Silenieks and Raimonds Vejonis.

At the very moment of Latvia independence, in the instance of legislation of those days - The Highest Board of Latvia Republic (1990 - 1993) there were 7 deputies, who also established the declaration of Latvia independence: Skaidrite Albertina, Dzintars Abikis, Olegs Batarevskis, Ilma Brinke, Marcis Cirulis, Indulis Emsis, Arvids Ulme.

At the moment of establishing the parliament of independent country - the Saeima, which was the fifth by the moment of independent Latvia, there was elected only one deputy - Anna Seile. Nevertheless Indulis Emsis represented Latvia Green party in government as the Minister of environment till the year 1998. Arvids Ozols - as minister of woods and Valts Vilnitis as director of environment protection in ministry of The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia.

At the 6th Saeima of the Republic Latvia (1995 - 1998), from the Latvian Green party there were elected Indulis Emsis, Guntis Enins, Janis Kalvins and Janis Razna as deputy.

At the 7th Saeima, which was elected in 1998, the Greens unfortunately were not represented. But in spite of, Latvian Green party have got several deputies in local municipalities.

Indulis Emsis, Arvids Ulme, Imants Freimanis, Marcis Cirulis un Skaidrite Albertina are medalled with the "Medal of three stars", Indulis Emsis obtained also International premium of Baltic sea for environment protection in 1997. Askolds Klavins, Viesturs Silenieks, Andris Talmanis un Raitis Kalpins are medalled with medal of the Fund of National protection, Juris Zvirgzds has got premium from the Cabinet of Ministers for reintroduction of tree frogs in Latvia, Rolands Greizins obtained appreciation from the Cabinet of Ministers in 1997.

The Latvian Green party and 8th elections
At the early autumn of the 2001 making up for the 8th national elections of the parliament, Latvian greens got several offers from different parties to make common list to elections. There have been reviewed several offers and the Congress of the Latvian Green party (LGP) decided to start in elections alone. The main arguments were: the "clear " name of the Greens, additional chance to mobilize all strength of green people and therefore unite Greens and their work. At that time the Greens had rate of 3% votes.

By continuing discussions with probable partners of coalition, the most suitable have been chosen the "Latvian Rustic union" (LRU). As the reason and arguments for such union was offered support from sponsors. Nobody is interested to support losers, but the political party which could get seats in the parliament. The second argument was possibility to cover all the territory of the Latvia with electors (LGP mostly have electors in cities, but LRU in countryside). There have been made different meetings with former candidate of Latvian president Ms Ingrida Udre and former prime minister and transport minister and at the same time very scandalous person Mr Vilis Kristopans and they agreed to be in list.

To adopt decision to make common list wit the LRU (whose rate was same as for GPL - 3%) it was necessary to have decision of the congress of the LGP. At the middle of the July was made extra congress of the LGP where was decided to found the "Greens and Rustic union"(GRU). During the next week was official founded organization. As the head of this organization was elected woman - Ingrida Udre and board which consists from 3 members of the Greens and 3 from the Rustic union. During the week was made list of the candidates of deputies where 50% places got each party. During the next weeks the rate of the new built organization have risen to 5% at August, 7% at September and 8,3 at the beginning of October. The election campaign of GRU was considered as the second most powerful on these elections.

At the 5th October elections GRU received 9,47% of votes and got 12 seats in the parliament. The members of the Green party of Latvia received 3 seats. The deputies are: The co-chairman of the Latvian Green party - Indulis Emsis, Arvids Ulme - the head of the Latvian Environment protection club, Leopolds Ozolins - the deputy of the city Jurmala.

After elections GRU was one of the 4 parties that formed the government:

1. "Jaunais laiks" ("The New time")
2. Zalo un Zemnieku savieniba (The Greens and Rustics union)
3. "Latvijas Pirma Partija" (The "Latvian first party")
4. Apvieniba "Tevzemei un Brivibai"/LNNK (Union "For fatherland and freedom")

The new government was elected with 55 votes during the 15 minutes at the second session of the parliament - without discussions and debates.

GRU got 3 ministries:

• Environment ministry - Green minister, Mr Raimonds Vejonis
• Agricultural ministry - Rustic minister, Mr Martins Roze
• Social, welfare ministry - Rustic minister Ms Dagnija Stake

On February 5th 2004 the Prime Minister Einars Repse (The New Time) resigned. After that the President of Latvia nominated Indulis Emsis - the co-chairman of LGP - as a Prime Minister. Since the 9th March 2004, when Saeima approved his candidacy, Mr. Emsis had leaded the Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia. That was a minority government - "The New Time" and Union "For Fatherland and Freedom" have declined to work in the government. In spite of that the government worked very well and was stable - until the adoption of Budget for next year. On October 28th the government of Indulis Emsis was overset by People Party. Their official argument was "bad Budget", though it sounded very trivially - the Budget was developed by Ministry of Finances and the Minister of Finances was from People Party. The Prime Minister of Latvia now is Mr. Aigars Kalvitis (People Party).

Coalition in Saeima now looks like this:

1. People Party
2. The Greens and Rustics Union
3. The New Time
4. The Latvian First Party

GRU still have the same ministries.

GRU in parliament:
The chairman of the commission of Education, Culture ans Science - Rustic, Mr Janis Strazdins
The chairman of the commission of Interpellation - Rustic, Mr Augusts Brigmanis
The chairman of the commission of Foreign Affairs - Green, Mr Leopolds Ozolins

Greens outside the parliament and Government:
At the same time the Greens got the chairman (Mr Askolds Klavins) place in the Environment department in the Riga city council and the director of the Regional environment administration (Mr Janis Avotins). It means that the all-main posts in Latvian environment protection structure are "under the control of Greens"!  

current government

National Government:

1. Tautas partija (The "People Party")
2. Jaunais Laiks ("The New Time")
3. Zalo un Zemnieku savieniba (The "Greens and Rustics Union")
4. Latvijas Pirma Partija (The "Latvian First Party")

Parties Represented in National Parliament:

• Apvieniba "Tevzemei un Brivibai"/LNNK (Union "For fatherland and freedom")
• Apvieniba "Par cilveka tiesibam vienota Latvija" (Union "For human rights in united Latvia")
• Tautas saskanas partija ("Nation's Conformity Party")

 

election information

Next National Elections:

Latest Green Party Election Results:

• National Election Year: 2006
  MPs:
  Total No. National Votes:
  % Gained:
• European Elections: 2004
  MEPs:0
  Total No. European Votes:24.467**
  % Gained: 4,26**

**in coalition (Green-Agrarian Coalition)

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