Political disillusionment may keep one in three from voting

Around one in three eligible voters may not take part in the upcoming parliamentary elections, sociologists at the SKDS research centre predict, LSM reports. The figure is unlikely to differ significantly from previous elections, and the main reason is disappointment with politics rather than expired passports or a lack of time.

Political scientists say abstaining is not a solution.

Almost everything is ready for the elections, and calls to vote are growing louder. But some citizens have already decided not to take part.

“They do not hear or see themselves or their priorities in the decisions made by the Saeima, Latvia’s parliament, and the Cabinet of Ministers. So they quite understandably say: why should I take part in this exercise? If they ignore me, I ignore them,” said Jānis Ikstens, a professor at the University of Latvia and a political scientist.

Voters expect promises to be kept

Andis Podziņš, a former member of the KPV LV party, Aivis Dumpis, who works in woodworking, and Andris Auziņš, an active pensioner, explained why they had decided not to vote.

All three had voted in at least some previous elections but no longer plan to do so. They said Saeima deputies were not held accountable for keeping their promises while enjoying extensive privileges.

“He is considered a servant of the people. He should not now travel to work at the people’s expense, because I travel to work using my own money. I think a deputy should live this way too,” Auziņš said.

Dumpis said: “All the promises remain just promises, and that is all. We reduce or increase something, but how do we obtain the funds?”

Podziņš said politicians promised things the country could not really afford. If those promises were funded, he said, it would be at the expense of future generations and could leave the country vulnerable to demands from large banks.

The three voters are not indifferent to what is happening in the country. On the contrary, they are concerned about various problems, including healthcare.