THE PRESIDENT

Summary

Text by: Valts Kalnins,
Latvian Institute of International Affairs LIIA, October 2001

Latvia is a parliamentary republic and therefore the President of State has rather limited powers. However, in specific situations he or she may play an important role.

The Saeima elects the President of State for a four years term. Any full-fledged Latvian citizen who is at least 40 years old and does not have a dual citizenship may become the President. The President represents the state internationally, appoints Latvia's diplomatic representatives and receives foreign diplomatic representatives. He or she implements the Saeima decisions about the ratification of international agreements. The President is the supreme leader of the state military force. On the basis of the Saeima decision, the President declares war. The President has the right to pardon convicted criminals.

The President has the right to convene and preside over the extraordinary sittings of the Cabinet of Ministers. In such cases, the President determines the agenda of the sittings. The President also has the right to initiate a bill.

The President has the right to propose the dissolution of the Saeima. Thereafter a popular vote is required. If more than one half of the voters favor the dissolution of the Saeima, the Saeima is regarded as dissolved and new elections are to be promulgated. Such elections are to take place no later than two months after the dissolution of the Saeima. If more than one half of the votes cast are against the dissolution of the Saeima, the President is regarded as dismissed and the Saeima elects a new President for the remaining term of the dismissed President. Upon proposal by no less than one half of all Saeima members, the Saeima in a closed sitting with the voting majority of no less than two thirds of all Saeima members may decide to dismiss the President. After such a decision, the Saeima elects a new President immediately. In the way as regulated by the above procedure, the dissolution of the Saeima and the dismissal of the President have never actually taken place.

Today's president Vaira Vike-Freiberga is the fifth democratically elected president of the Republic of Latvia. First three presidents - Janis Cakste (1922-1928), Gustavs Zemgals (1928-1932), Alberts Kviesis (1932-1936) - held the office before the World War II. Note that Karlis Ulmanis who proclaimed himself the President of State (1936-1940) did not acquire the office in a legal way because the Saeima was dissolved and it is only the Saeima that has the authority to elect Latvia's president.