Government (Latvia)
===================


     Long-form name:
         Republic of Latvia
     Type:
         republic
     Capital:
         Riga
     Administrative divisions:
         none - all districts are under direct republic jurisdiction
     Independence:
         18 November 1918; annexed by the USSR 21 July 1940, the Latvian Soviet
         Socialist Republic declared independence 6 September 1991 from USSR
     Constitution:
         April 1978, currently rewriting constitution, but readopted the 1922
         Constitution
     Legal system:
         based on civil law system
     National holiday:
         Independence Day, 18 November (1918)
     Executive branch:
         Prime Minister
     Legislative branch:
         unicameral Supreme Council
     Judicial branch:
         Supreme Court
     Leaders:
       Chief of State:
         Chairman, Supreme Council, Anatolijs GORBUNOVS (since October 1988);
         Chairmen, Andrejs KRASTINS, Valdis BIRKAVS (since NA 1992)
       Head of Government:
         Prime Minister Ivars GODMANIS (since May 1990)
     Political parties and leaders:
         Democratic Labor Party of Latvia, Juris BOJARS, chairman; Inter-Front of the
         Working People of Latvia, Igor LOPATIN, chairman; note - Inter-Front was
         banned after the coup; Latvian National Movement for Independence, Eduards
         BERKLAVS, chairman; Latvian Social Democratic Party, Janis DINEVICS,
         chairman; Social Democratic Party of Latvia, Uldis BERZINS, chairman;
         Latvian People's Front, Romualdas RAZUKAS, chairman; Latvian Liberal Party,
         Georg LANSMANIS, chairman
     Suffrage:
         universal at age 18
     Elections:
       President:
         last held October 1988 (next to be held NA; note - elected by Parliament;
         new elections have not been scheduled; results - percent of vote by party NA
       Supreme Council:
         last held 18 March 1990 (next to be held NA); results - undetermined; seats
         - (234 total) Latvian Communist Party 59, Latvian Democratic Workers Party
         31, Social Democratic Party of Latvia 4, Green Party of Latvia 7, Latvian
         Farmers Union 7, 126 supported by the Latvia Popular Front
       Congress of Latvia:
         last held April 1990 (next to be held NA); note - the Congress of Latvia is
         a quasi-governmental structure; results - percent of vote by party NA%;
         seats - (231 total) number of seats by party NA
     Member of:
         CSCE, IAEA, UN
     Diplomatic representation:
         Ambassador Dr. Anatol DINBERGS; Chancery at 4325 17th St. NW, Washington, DC
         20011; telephone (202) 726-8213 and 8214