Latvian community get the chance to vote in their country’s elections
LATVIAN nationals living in Guernsey had the opportunity to vote in their country’s election on Saturday.
A polling station in Moores Hotel opened between 7am and 8pm for the 13th Saeima – the Parliament of the Republic of Latvia election.
Honorary Consul of the Republic of Latvia in Guernsey, Lilita Kruze, said the first person had voted as soon as the doors were open.
‘Elections are held every four years and this is the fourth time that Latvian people in Guernsey have been able to vote,’ she said.
Some people were expected to travel from Jersey to vote as there was no polling station there. There is no electoral roll but people have to obtain a voting card from their country, and a passport or ID card must be shown for identification purposes. Nearly 300 people voted in 2014. Minimum voting age is 18. Latvia has five constituencies and Guernsey residents vote in the Riga capital one.
They included airport firefighter Aivis Kergalvis, 33, who has lived in Guernsey on and off for 14 years and who is now married to a local.
‘I want to vote because I have family in Latvia, my brother, sister, and grandparents, and it affects them as well,’ he said.
People can vote for the party of their choice, plus candidates within it if they choose. Latvia currently has a coalition government consisting of three parties and its parliament has 100 seats.
Election commission secretary Inga Platkevica said it was important that people took part.
‘We are still Latvian citizens,’ she said. ‘There is an obligation on us to vote as the outcome will determine Latvia’s future for the next four years.’
About 1,000 Latvian nationals are currently thought to live in Guernsey.
Ms Kruze said the number had dropped compared to about 10 years ago when between 5,000 and 6,000 Latvian nationals were living here.
‘I think the main reasons have been the new population law and Brexit, which have both created uncertainty,’ she said.
