ils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons,
Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Leipaja*, Liepajas
Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons,
Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus
Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons,
Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons

Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918)

Constitution: the 1991 Constitutional Law which supplements the 1922
constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms

Legal system: based on civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Andris BERZINS (since 5 May 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
appointed by the Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term
(amended from a three-year term on 4 December 1997); election last
held 17 June 1999 (next to be held by NA June 2003); prime minister
appointed by the president
election results: Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA elected as a compromise
candidate in second phase of balloting, second round (after five
rounds in first phase failed); percent of parliamentary vote - Vaira
VIKE-FREIBERGA 53%, Valdis BIRKAVS 20%, Ingrida UDRE 9%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats;
members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms -
amended from three-year terms on 4 December 1997)
elections: last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party - People's Party 21%, LC
18%, TSP 14%, TB/LNNK 14%, Social Democrats 13%, New Party 8%; seats
by party - People's Party 24, LC 21, TSP 16, TB/LNNK 17, Social
Democrats 14, New Party 8

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges' appointments are confirmed by
Parliament

Political parties and leaders: Anticommunist Union or PA [P.
MUCENIEKS]; Association of Latvian Social Democrats [Juris BOJARS,
Janis ADAMSONS]; Christian Democrat Union or LKDS ;
Christian People's Party or KTP (formerly People's Front of Latvia or
LTF) ; Democratic Party "Saimnieks" or DPS [Ziedonis
CEVERS, chairman]; For Fatherland and Freedom or TB ,
merged with LNNK; Green Party or LZP ; Latvian
Liberal Party or LLP ; Latvian National Conservative Party
or LNNK ; Latvian Na