2023 Latvian presidential election
Indirect presidential elections were held in Latvia on 31 May 2023 to elect the President of Latvia, who is the country's head of state.[1][2]
Background[edit]
In late 2022, political scientist and historian Gatis Krūmiņš stated that the 2023 presidential election could cause friction in the Second Kariņš cabinet and potentially lead to its downfall due to disagreements on who should be the presidential candidate.[5] Ultimately failing to reach agreement on a candidate, the three government parties – New Unity, the United List, and the National Alliance – presented two presidential candidates, both in April 2023. The United List named their candidate; the founder of the party alliance, entrepreneur Uldis Pīlēns,[6] while New Unity and the National Alliance endorsed the reelection of the incumbent president, Egils Levits.[7]
Voting system[edit]
Before the first round of the presidential election, the political parties represented in the Saeima nominate their candidate.[8]
The President of the Republic is elected in the first round if he receives the absolute majority of the deputies, i.e. 51 votes out of 100.[8]
In case of failure, another round is organized with the same candidates or different ones, and under the same conditions. If no one is elected, others rounds are held minus the least voted candidate in the previous one, until a candidate receives 51 votes and becomes President of Latvia. The Speaker of the Saeima chairs the electoral college.[8]