Supreme Court rejects challenge to Latvian parliamentary election results

Latvia's Supreme Court has rejected an application contesting the results of the 15th Saeima (parliament) election. The application was filed by Raimonds Lejnieks-Puķe, a candidate of the political alliance "Saskaņas centrs" (Harmony Centre), whose list did not win seats in parliament. He also sought compensation for non-material damage. The election was held on 3 October, and the ruling means the results stand.

Two submissions

In total, the Supreme Court received submissions from two people about the conduct and results of the election. The previous week, the court had already dismissed Lejnieks-Puķe's complaint against a decision of the Central Election Commission (CVK). In that decision, the commission had declined to examine his request to contest vote-counting protocols at several polling stations.

The second person's application was split. The part concerning the possible registration of a candidate list in breach of the law, along with related secondary claims, was forwarded to the Administrative District Court, which has jurisdiction over such matters. The part seeking to overturn the approval of the election results and to hold a repeat election was ruled inadmissible. The applicant was neither a submitter of a candidate list nor a nominated candidate, and only they have the legal right to appeal that decision to the Supreme Court.

Election results

The CVK officially approved the election results on 16 October. Submitters of candidate lists and nominated candidates could appeal them in court within three working days.

According to the CVK, the "Apvienotais saraksts" (United List) won 41 seats in the new parliament, "Latvija pirmajā vietā" (Latvia First) 17, "Suverēnā vara/Apvienība jaunlatvieši" 15, the National Alliance 10, "Progresīvie" (The Progressives) 10, and "Jaunā vienotība" (New Unity) 7. The remaining lists failed to clear the 5% threshold required to enter parliament.