Liberalism in Latvia

This article gives an overview of liberalism in Latvia. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in the Saeima. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary so that parties labelled themselves as a liberal party.

Background[]

Latvia was one of the early post World War I nations which adopted some ideas from the 1919 Weimar Constitution. German liberal lawyer Hugo Preuß (Preuss) is often attributed as the author of the draft version of the constitution that was passed by the Weimar National Assembly,^[1] which historian William L. Shirer in a book The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich regards as "the most liberal and democratic document of its kind the twentieth century had ever seen ... full of ingenious and admirable devices which seemed to guarantee the working of an almost flawless democracy.".

In Latvia some early law experts such as Kārlis Dišlers, Fēlikss Cielēns and modern day jurists agree that Weimar Constitution was underlying the wording of the Constitution of Latvia (Satversme), and in some way is a synthesis between the Weimar Constitution and Westminster system used in the United Kingdom.^[2]^[3]

History[]

Liberalism in Latvia was a small but important force since 1922 in Latvia. The current regained position after the re-independence of 1990. Nowadays the Latvian Way (Latvijas Ceļš, member LI, ELDR) is a right of center market liberal party. Currently the party has merged with the Latvia's First Party to form LPP/LC.

German Baltic Democratic Party[]

1918: Moderate German liberals in Latvia formed the (Deutsch-Baltische Demokratische Partei/Vācbaltu demokrātiskā partija)
1934: The party is banned, along with all other political parties, after a coup by Kārlis Ulmanis

German Baltic Progressive Party[]

1918: Radical German liberals in Latvia formed the (Deutsch-Baltische Fortschrittliche Partei/Vācbaltu progresīvā partija)
1934: The party is banned

From Democratic Party to Democratic Centre[]

1922: Shortly after its foundation the (Demokrātiskā partija) merged with the Radical Democratic Party (Radikālā Demokrātiskā partija) and the People's Party (Ļaužu partija) into the Democratic Centre (Demokrātiskais centrs). The party is led by the later presidents of Latvia, Jānis Čakste and Gustavs Zemgals.
1934: The party is banned. In exile it is continued by the Liberal Party (Liberāļu partija)

Latgalian Democratic Party[]

1920: Latgalian liberals formed the (Latgales demokrātu partija)
1926: The party merged into the Latgalian Democratic Farmers Union (Latgales demokrātisko zemnieku savienība)

Mizrochi[]

1922: Liberal Jewish Zionists formed the Mizrachi
1934: The party is banned

From Democratic Centre Party to Latvian Democratic Party[]

1992: A Democratic Centre Party (Demokrātiskā centra partija) is founded as a refoundation of the ⇒ Democratic Centre
1994: The party merged with another group into the Democratic Party "Saimnieks" (Demokrātiskā partija "Saimnieks")
1997: Many members left to join the Workers' Party and the
1999: The party is renamed (Latvijas demokrātiskā partija)

Latvia's Way[]

1993: Liberals from the Popular Front of Latvia formed the Latvia's Way (Latvijas Ceļš)
2006: Latvia's Way forged an alliance with the Latvia's First Party, forming the LPP/LC.
2010: LPP/LC joined hands with the People's Party to form the For a Good Latvia (Par Labu Latviju) alliance.
2011: People's Party is disbanded, so is the PLL alliance.

For Latvia's Development[]

2013: Political party For Latvia's Development founded by Einārs Repše
2014: Juris Pūce was elected as the new chairperson. Party became a member of ALDE (the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe)
2017: Party elected in Riga City Council in an electoral alliance with Latvian Association of Regions
2018: The electoral alliance Development/For! was formed by For Latvia's Development, Movement For!, and Izaugsme

Liberal leaders[]

Demokrātiskais Centrs: Jānis Čakste
Latvian Development: Juris Pūce

References[]

^ "The Weimar Constitution and its "Father" Hugo Preuss". The National Library of Israel. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
^ Potjomkina, Diāna; Sprūds, Andris; Ščerbinskis, Valters (2016). The centenary of Latvias's foreign affairs: Ideas and personalities. ISBN 978-9984-583-99-0. OCLC 1012747806.
^ Apsītis, Romāns; Pleps, Janis (2012). "About The Constitution of the Republic of Latvia: History and Modern Days" (PDF). The Constitution of the Republic of Latvia. ISBN 978-9984-840-20-8.

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[1] "The Weimar Constitution and its "Father" Hugo Preuss". The National Library of Israel. Retrieved 2021-03-23.

[2] Potjomkina, Diāna; Sprūds, Andris; Ščerbinskis, Valters (2016). The centenary of Latvias's foreign affairs: Ideas and personalities. ISBN 978-9984-583-99-0. OCLC 1012747806.

[3] Apsītis, Romāns; Pleps, Janis (2012). "About The Constitution of the Republic of Latvia: History and Modern Days" (PDF). The Constitution of the Republic of Latvia. ISBN 978-9984-840-20-8.

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