Pre-election campaign period kicks off in Latvia

During this period, campaigners, the media and other stakeholders must comply with the procedures and restrictions laid down for the conduct of pre-election campaigns, including the placement of material in the press, public places, the Internet and the electronic media, in order to ensure a level playing field for all candidates.

Campaigners, including political parties, their associations and candidates are allowed to place paid pre-election campaigns only at those advertising service providers registered with the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) or the National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP). All submitted prices of advertising service providers in KNAB are publicly available on the institution's website .

Covert campaigning is banned, a typical example of which would be undeclared payment for coverage or endorsement.

If the public suspects or has evidence of covert campaigning, inappropriate use of administrative resources and other violations, these can be reported on the KNAB helpline 80002070 or by writing to [email protected] .

The next parliamentary election is in Latvia, to decide the composition of the 14^th Saeima, will take place on October 1, 2022, when 100 members of parliament will be elected for the next four years.

Citizens of Latvia over the age of 18 have the right to vote, while Latvian citizens who are older than 21 years may stand as candidates in the Saeima elections.

The submission of lists of candidates in parliamentary elections will take place from the 80^th to 60^th day before the election day, i.e. from 13 July to 2 August in the 14^th Saeima elections.

The list of candidates may be submitted by registered parties established no later than one year before the elections, with a minimum of 500 members. If the list of candidates is submitted by a party association (joining together of more than one party), the parties belonging to it must also be established not later than one year before the elections and the association must have a total of not less than 500 members.

There are five constituencies – Riga, Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme and Zemgale, and a specified number of members of the Saeima are elected from each constituency, determined by the Central Election Commission in proportion to the number of voters of the constituency.