Third attempt to collect signatures for a referendum to dismiss Jelgava Municipality Council
A third signature drive has begun in Latvia to trigger a referendum on dismissing the Jelgava Municipality Council. The previous two attempts were backed by only 58 and four residents.
A third signature collection has started in Jelgava Municipality, Latvia, aiming to initiate a referendum on dismissing the local council. The information appears on the website of the Central Election Commission (CVK). Signatures can be submitted until 4 December.
Earlier attempts
According to data published by the CVK, the first drive in the summer was supported by 58 residents, while the second drew just four.
Who is behind the initiative
The dismissal is being proposed by political activist Raimonds Lejnieks-Puķe. In the 2025 local elections he sought a seat on the municipal council on the list of "Suverēnā vara" and "Apvienība jaunlatvieši". This year he ran in the Saeima (national parliament) elections on the "Saskaņas centrs" list, but that party failed to win seats in parliament.
Requirements
To launch a referendum on dismissing the Jelgava Municipality Council, at least 30% of eligible voters must take part in the signature drive, which equals 7,060 citizens.
The Law on Local Government Referendums has been in force since September 2024. Under it, a referendum on dismissing a council cannot be initiated within a year of the council's first meeting or within a year before the end of its term. The council elected in 2025 has now been in office for more than a year, so this restriction no longer blocks the initiative.
