LSM launches tool to compare voters’ and parties’ positions

LSM.lv and the Centre for Public Policy Providus have launched the Party Sorter, an interactive tool that lets voters compare their positions on key issues with those of political parties standing in Latvia’s 15th Saeima elections.

Users can select at least two of the seven available topics and compare their views with the parties’ positions on those issues. They can also choose all seven topics to see areas of agreement and disagreement across a broader range of questions.

The results show each party’s share of answers in four categories: fully aligned, partly aligned, little contradiction and radical contradiction. The results section also lists candidates for prime minister and sector specialists, where a party has named them.

Providus developed the content with the involvement of civil society organisations and experts from academic and public organisations. They selected questions considered important to society and likely to reveal differences between Latvian parties.

LSM.lv designed the tool. All 14 election lists were invited to complete a questionnaire in which each question was presented as a statement. Parties could respond that they fully agreed, partly agreed, both agreed and disagreed, partly disagreed or fully disagreed. So far, 13 political forces have completed the questionnaire.