Edvards Smiltēns returns as Latvia’s parliament speaker

Edvards Smiltēns of the United List was elected speaker of Latvia’s 15th Saeima, the country’s parliament, on Tuesday, LSM reports. He previously held the post during the first year of the 14th Saeima.

Smiltēns received 79 votes, while 15 deputies voted against him. Sovereign Power/Alliance of New Latvians had nominated its leader, Jūlija Stepaņenko, as a second candidate; only members of her party voted for her.

After the vote, Smiltēns took over chairing the session from Daiga Mieriņa of the Union of Greens and Farmers. Deputies were then due to vote on the other members of the Saeima’s presidium: two deputy speakers, a secretary and a deputy secretary.

The United List won 41 seats in the parliamentary election. Six political forces entered the Saeima, while the Union of Greens and Farmers failed to pass the five percent threshold for the first time in its 24-year history. Voter turnout was 51.79 percent, the lowest recorded in parliamentary elections.