September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 November (1918)
Constitution:
newly elected Parliament in 1993 restored the 1933 constitution
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993); Saeima elected President
ULMANIS in the third round of balloting on 7 July 1993
head of government:
Prime Minister Valdis BIRKAVS (since 20 July 1993)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the Supreme Council
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Parliament (Saeima):
elections last held 5-6 June 1993 (next to be held NA June 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (100 total) LC 36, LNNK
15, Concord for Latvia 13, LZS 12, Equal Rights 7, LKDS 6, TUB 6, DCP
5
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Latvian Way Union (LC), Valdis BIRKAVS; Latvian Farmers Union (LZS),
Alvars BERKIS; Latvian National Independence Movement (LNNK), Andrejs
KRASTINS, Aristids LAMBERGS, cochairmen; Concord for Latvia, Janis
JURKANS; Equal Rights, Sergejs DIMANIS; Christian Democrat Union
(LKDS), Peteris CIMDINS, Andris SAULITIS, Janis RUSKO; Fatherland and
Freedom (TUB), Maris GRINBLATS, Roberts MILBERGS, Oigerts DZENTIS;
Democratic Center (DCP), Ints CALITIS; Popular Front of Latvia (LTF),
Uldis AUGSTKALNS
Member of:
BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE (guest), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM
(observer), ITU, LORCS, NACC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS
chancery:
4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone:
(202) 726-8213 and 8214
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Ints M, SILINS
embassy:
Raina Boulevard 7, Riga 226050
mailing address:
use embassy street address
telephone:
46-9-882-0046
FAX:
46-9-882-0047
Flag:
two horizontal bands of maroon (top and bottom), white (middle,
narrower than other two bands)

@Latvia, Economy

Overview:
Latvia is rapidly becoming a dynamic market economy, rivaled only by
Estonia among the former Soviet states in the speed of its
transformation. The transition has been painful with GDP falling over
45% in 1992-93, according to official statistics, and industrial
pro