New Unity to Hold Extraordinary Congress on 28 November to Elect New Party Leadership
Latvia's governing party alliance New Unity will convene an extraordinary congress on 28 November to re-elect its leadership after a weak showing in the 15th Saeima election. The party won seven seats, compared with 26 four years earlier.
The Latvian party alliance New Unity (Jaunā vienotība, JV) will hold an extraordinary congress on 28 November, at which its leadership is due to be re-elected, the party confirmed to the news agency LETA. The venue has not yet been decided. The move follows the 15th Saeima (Latvia's parliament) election, in which JV performed relatively poorly.
The election result
JV won seven seats in parliament, down from 26 four years ago. The biggest share of support went to the United List, which took 41 seats. Voter turnout was 51.8%, the lowest figure since Latvia restored its independence.
Leadership assessments
Party leader Evika Siliņa told Latvian Television that the party was dissatisfied with the outcome. In her view, the party's existing way of working no longer appeals sufficiently to either voters or members. She also acknowledged her own responsibility for the result.
Siliņa currently chairs the management board of the New Unity alliance. The chair of the party Unity (Vienotība), which is part of the alliance, is Edmunds Jurēvics, who also leads the JV faction in the Saeima.
Health Minister Hosams Abu Meri (JV) has already decided to step down as chair of the Unity party council, taking his share of responsibility for the election result. In a statement he said the result must be accepted with respect for voters' choice and a readiness to assess one's work honestly. In his view, JV had not managed to work effectively enough. He has informed the JV board of his decision.
