Liberalism in Latvia

This article gives an overview of liberalism in Latvia. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in the Saeima. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary so that parties labelled themselves as a liberal party.

Background

Latvia was one of the early post World War I nations which adopted some ideas from the 1919 Weimar Constitution. German liberal lawyer Hugo Preuß (Preuss) is often attributed as the author of the draft version of the constitution that was passed by the Weimar National Assembly, which historian William L. Shirer in a book The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich regards as "the most liberal and democratic document of its kind the twentieth century had ever seen... full of ingenious and admirable devices which seemed to guarantee the working of an almost flawless democracy."
In Latvia some early law experts such as Kārlis Dišlers, Fēlikss Cielēns and modern day jurists agree that Weimar Constitution was underlying the wording of the Constitution of Latvia, and in some way is a synthesis between the Weimar Constitution and Westminster system used in the United Kingdom.

History

Liberalism in Latvia was a small but important force since 1922 in Latvia. The current regained position after the re-independence of 1990. The current major liberal party is the centre-right Unity, which is also a member of the alliance New Unity.

German Baltic Democratic Party

1918: Moderate German liberals in Latvia formed the German-Baltic Democratic Party
1934: The party is banned, along with all other political parties, after a coup by Kārlis Ulmanis

German Baltic Progressive Party

1918: Radical German liberals in Latvia formed the German-Baltic Progressive Party
1934: The party is banned

From Democratic Party to Democratic Centre

1922: Shortly after its foundation the Democratic Party merged with the Radical Democratic Party and the People's Party into the Democratic Centre. The party is led by the later presidents of Latvia, Jānis Čakste and Gustavs Zemgals.
1934: The party is banned. In exile it is continued by the Liberal Party

Latgalian Democratic Party

1920: Latgalian liberals formed the Latgalian Democratic Party
1926: The party merged into the ''Latgalian Democratic Farmers Union''

Mizrochi

1922: Liberal Jewish Zionists formed the Mizrachi
1934: The party is banned

From Democratic Centre Party to Latvian Democratic Party

1992: A Democratic Centre Party is founded as a refoundation of the ⇒ Democratic Centre
1994: The party merged with another group into the Democratic Party "Saimnieks"
1997: Many members left to join the Workers' Party and the Latvian National Reform Party
1999: The party is renamed '''Latvian Democratic Party'''

Latvia's Way

1993: Liberals from the Popular Front of Latvia formed the Latvia's Way
2006: Latvia's Way forged an alliance with the Latvia's First Party, forming the LPP/LC.
2010: LPP/LC joined hands with the People's Party to form the For a Good Latvia alliance.
2011: People's Party is disbanded, so is the PLL alliance.

New Era Party to Unity

2002: New Era Party was formed.
2008: Society for Political Change was formed.
2010: JL, SCP and the conservative ⇒ Civic Union formed an electoral alliance called -'Unity.
2011: Unity became a political party.
2011: Zatlers' Reform Party' was formed.
2015: ZRP merged into Unity.
2018: Unity formed with regional parties New Unity.

For Latvia's Development

2013: Political party For Latvia's Development founded by Einārs Repše
2014: Juris Pūce was elected as the new chairperson. Party became a member of ALDE
2017: Party elected in Riga City Council in an electoral alliance with Latvian Association of Regions
2017: Movement For! was founded.
2018: The electoral alliance Development/For! was formed by For Latvia's Development, Movement For!, and Izaugsme

Liberal leaders

Demokrātiskais Centrs: Jānis Čakste
Latvian Development: Juris Pūce