Tomorrow, Latvia votes.
On the eve of the 15th Saeima election, Māris looks beyond the campaign slogans and asks what Latvian voters are actually choosing when they cast their ballots.
For listeners in Australia and across the diaspora, Māris first explains how Latvia’s political system differs from the Australian, British, and American models: the 100-seat, single-chamber Saeima, Latvia’s five electoral districts, proportional representation, the 5% threshold, the multi-party system, coalition governments, and how a Latvian voter can not only choose a party list, but also put a plus beside a preferred candidate or cross out a candidate they don’t want representing them. - Then the episode turns to something considerably more confronting.
An investigation by Latvijas Televīzija’s De facto, published by LSM on 27 September 2026, reported that candidates facing criminal cases or proceedings appeared on nine of the fourteen political lists contesting the election.
Some have been charged. Some are before the courts. Some deny wrongdoing. Some cases remain under appeal. In some instances discussed in the investigation, first-instance courts have already returned guilty verdicts.
Those legal distinctions matter. So does the presumption of innocence.
But on the eve of an election, there’s another question worth asking:
Is being legally entitled to stand for Parliament the same thing as being entitled to the public’s trust?
This episode examines the candidates and cases identified by De facto, the explanations offered by their parties, and the five electoral lists that weren’t identified in that particular investigation as having candidates involved in the criminal proceedings it examined.
No endorsement. No instruction about which party to choose.
Instead, one final reminder before Latvia votes:
Read the programmes. Check the promises. Look at the numbers. Look at the names. And remember that Latvia’s electoral system lets you have a say not only in which party enters the Saeima, but which candidates from that party may get there.
Tomorrow, the politicians stop asking.
Latvia answers.
email Māris - mansakams@nomalasredzams.com
Latvijas Sabiedriskais medijs / LTV De facto
Ivo Leitāns, 27 September 2026
No apsūdzēto sola uz Saeimas krēslu: vismaz deviņu partiju sarakstos iekļauti kandidāti ar krimināllietām
Latvijas Republikas Saeima
Official information on elections to the Saeima and Latvia’s parliamentary system
https://www.saeima.lv/en/about-saeima/the-parliament-of-latvia/elections-of-the-saeima/
Latvijas Republikas Saeima — Constitution of Latvia
Official information on the Saeima, President, Cabinet, and formation of government
https://www.saeima.lv/en/about-saeima/work-of-the-saeima/constitution/
Saeimas vēlēšanu likums — Saeima Election Law
Official Latvian legislation governing candidate eligibility and Saeima elections
https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/35261-law-on-the-election-of-the-saeimai
Centrālā vēlēšanu komisija — CVK
Official election information, candidate lists, voting procedures, and election results
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