Will Latvia's boost in state party funding from 2019 continue?
Seven years ago Latvia's parliament more than sextupled state budget funding for political parties that win at least 2% of voter support. LSM's voter-information series recalls the background to that decision.
As part of its "Know Before You Vote" series, Latvian public broadcaster LSM has revisited a major change to how political parties are funded from the state budget, a change made seven years ago.
The 2019 amendment
In autumn 2019, the Saeima, Latvia's parliament, adopted amendments to the Law on Financing of Political Organizations (Parties). The amendments increased state budget funding for parties by more than sixfold. Parties become eligible for this funding once they secure at least 2% of voter support in an election.
Link to presidential priorities
The funding increase was also one of the priorities set out by Egils Levits after he was elected President of Latvia in the summer of 2019. The legislative change followed relatively soon after he took office.
Why it matters now
The article, part of an LSM series aimed at informing voters about party activities ahead of elections, revisits this historical decision and raises the question of whether the funding model in place for the past seven years will continue going forward. The source material does not provide specific figures or details of any future decisions on funding levels.
