1998 Latvian parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Latvia on 3 October 1998. The People's Party emerged as the largest party in the Saeima, winning 24 of the 100 seats.

1998 Latvian parliamentary election

3 October 1998
All 100 seats in the Saeima 51 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	71.00% (0.65 pp)
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/– TP Andris Šķēle 21.30 24 New LC Vilis Krištopans 18.15 21 +4 TB/LNNK Guntars Krasts 14.73 17 +3 TSP Jānis Jurkāns 14.20 16 +10 LSDA Jānis Ādamsons 12.88 14 +14 JP Raimonds Pauls 7.35 8 New This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. Results by district Prime Minister before Prime Minister after Guntars Krasts TB/LNNK Vilis Krištopans Latvian Way

Example of ballot paper

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	People's Party	203,585	21.30	24	New
	Latvian Way	173,420	18.15	21	+4
	For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK	140,773	14.73	17	+3
	National Harmony Party	135,700	14.20	16	+10
	Latvian Social Democratic Alliance	123,056	12.88	14	+14
	New Party	70,214	7.35	8	New
	Latvian Farmers' Union	23,732	2.48	0	–
	Workers' Party–LKDS–ZP	22,018	2.30	0	–
	People's Movement for Latvia	16,647	1.74	0	–16
	Democratic Party "Saimnieks"	15,410	1.61	0	–18
	Latvian Revival Party	5,000	0.52	0	New
	National Progress Party	4,522	0.47	0	New
	Latvian Unity Party	4,445	0.47	0	–8
	Social Democratic Women's Organisation	3,133	0.33	0	New
	Popular Movement "Freedom"	3,099	0.32	0	New
	Latvian National Democratic Party	2,927	0.31	0	0
	Conservative Party	2,318	0.24	0	New
	Citizens' Union "Our Land"	2,238	0.23	0	New
	Helsinki-86	2,088	0.22	0	New
	Democrats' Party	792	0.08	0	0
	Latvian National Reform Party	464	0.05	0	New
Total		955,581	100.00	100	0
Valid votes		955,581	97.27
Invalid/blank votes		26,819	2.73
Total votes		982,400	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		1,383,661	71.00
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Aftermath

Initially, a coalition government was formed between Latvian Way, For Fatherland and Freedom, the Social Democratic Alliance and the New Party. This enjoyed a parliamentary majority with 60 out of the 100 MPs. However, within six months of the coalition forming, the Social Democratic Alliance left the government, leaving it with just 46 MPs, wiping out its parliamentary majority. As a result, a new government was formed with the addition of the People's Party. This enjoyed a large parliamentary majority, with 70 out of the 100 MPs.