Edvards Smiltens elected Speaker of Latvia's 15th Saeima
Edvards Smiltens of the political force United List has been elected Speaker of the Saeima, Latvia's parliament, for a second time. He received 79 votes in favour, with 15 against.
Deputies of Latvia's parliament, the 15th Saeima, have elected Edvards Smiltens of the political force United List (Apvienotais saraksts, AS) as Speaker. His candidacy was backed by 79 deputies, while 15 voted against. The Speaker chairs the work of parliament, so the vote determines who will lead sittings of the newly elected legislature.
Return to the post
Smiltens has led parliament before: in 2022 he became Speaker of the 14th Saeima. After AS moved into opposition, the post was taken over by Daiga Mierina of the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS).
After the government of Prime Minister Evika Silina of New Unity (JV) fell, a new cabinet was formed by Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (AS). Smiltens served in that cabinet as Minister of Justice.
Political background
Smiltens has a long record in politics. He has been a member of the 10th, 11th and 12th Saeima, elected from the alliance Unity (Vienotiba). In 2011 he became parliamentary secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, and in 2014 parliamentary secretary at the Ministry of Education and Science.
He also ran in the 13th Saeima election on the list of the Latvian Association of Regions, but that party did not clear the threshold needed to enter parliament. In 2020 Smiltens stood in the extraordinary Riga City Council election on the National Alliance (NA) list. Afterwards he became deputy chairman of the Riga City Council and held that post for several years.
Balance of power in the 15th Saeima
In the elections to the 15th Saeima, AS won 41 seats. Latvia First (LPV) took 17, the alliance Sovereign Power/Alliance of New Latvians (SV/AJ) 15, the National Alliance and the Progressives 10 each, and New Unity seven.
