Riga, March 22: The newly elected Central Election Commission (CEC) met today for its first meeting, in which the Deputy Chairperson and the Secretary of the Commission were elected. Sigords Stradiņš (New Conservative Party) was elected as Deputy Chairperson of the CEC and Ritvars Eglājs (National Alliance "All For Latvia!" - "For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK") was elected as the Secretary. Both officials received unanimous support from the CEC members.
Sigords Stradiņš has already been a member of the Central Election Commission and the Deputy Chairman of the CEC from 2003 to 2007, as well a member of the Central Election Commission from 2007 to 2012. Ritvars Eglājs is a member of the CEC since April 2011 and holds the position of the Secretary of the Central Election Commission since March 2012.
The new composition of the CEC was approved by the Saeima yesterday, March 21, by electing the former head of the Information Section of the Central Election Commission Christine Berzins and the former commission members - Ritvars Eglars (National Alliance “All for Latvia” - “for the Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK”), Dzintru Kusiu (Union of Greens and Farmers).), Alexander Maļcev (“Harmony” Social Democratic Party) and Valdis Werner (“Development/About!”). Meanwhile, for the first time, Edgar Baldunchik (New Unity) and Sophie Greenspan (party “KPV LV”) were elected to the CEC.
The Law On the Central Election Commission states that the Saeima should establish the Central Election Commission no later than six months after the meeting of the new Saeima, and the Central Election Commission shall consist of nine members, of which the Chairman and seven members of the Commission shall be elected by the Saeima, and one member from among the judges shall be elected by the Supreme Court at its general meeting.
The Central Election Commission is a permanently functioning public institution whose duties include ensuring the implementation, uniform and correct application of the Saeima Election law, the Law on Elections to the European Parliament, the City Council and Regional Council Election Law and the Law on National Referendums, Initiation of Laws and European Citizens’ Initiative, as well as controlling the exact enforcement of these laws.
22.03.2019.
CEC Information Department
Tel. +371 67814900