Ijabs says For Latvia’s Development must change after election defeat

For Latvia’s Development must examine its mistakes and make changes after failing to win seats in parliament, party board member and European Parliament deputy Ivars Ijabs said in an interview with LTV’s Rīta Panorāma, LSM reported.

The party won 2.179% of the vote in the 15th Saeima elections, falling short of the 5% threshold but retaining eligibility for state funding. Ijabs said its failure to enter parliament for a second consecutive time showed that something was wrong. The party could not contest the next election with the same people and brand, he said.

Ijabs said changes were needed in the party’s leadership and its cooperation partners. He identified its youth organisation and its support for young leaders as strengths, but acknowledged that the party had apparently failed to communicate its programme effectively. He partly attributed this to the strength of Andris Kulbergs, a leading figure for the election-winning United List.

After the election, Marupe municipality mayor Aivars Ositis and five council members, including Artis Pabriks and Vjaceslavs Dombrovskis, left the party. Ijabs called Ositis’s departure a loss and said party affiliation in the regions was often tentative.