Unelected lawmakers plan new jobs, farming and book writing

Some outgoing Latvian lawmakers will look for work outside the public sector, continue farming or return to writing, while others plan to spend more time exercising. Several also expect to remain involved in politics, LSM reports.

More than 60 of the 100 members of the 14th Saeima, Latvia’s parliament, will not serve in the next parliament, or about two-thirds, according to a review of the outgoing and newly elected lawmakers. The new parliament’s composition may change after a government is formed and some elected members become ministers.

Several outgoing lawmakers did not run for re-election, including Raivis Dzintars of the National Alliance, Edmunds Cepurītis of the Progressives, Anda Čakša of New Unity and Mārcis Jencītis of Latvia First. Several others declined to tell LSM about their future plans.

Among candidates on the United List, which won 41 seats, Ingmārs Līdaka received the most crossed-off marks, at 17,490. He also had the sixth-highest number of marks in his favour on the list, with 8,951.

Līdaka said he was taking his defeat calmly and was open to job offers. “I have no plans, at least for now,” he told LSM, adding that he expected to be unemployed for a while.

Tags: Latvia, Saeima, elections