This document discusses features of the pre-election situation in Latvia. It provides data on public opinion polls regarding trust in political parties and institutions over time. It also examines attitudes toward Latvia's history as part of the USSR and criteria for electoral choice, such as prioritizing candidates or policies. Demographic data on ethnic groups is presented. Popularity of political parties is assessed according to ethnicity. The top issues of concern to voters are identified.

1. Features of the
pre-election situation in
Latvia
Ieva Strode
Political and social project director
SKDS

2. 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
05.96.
07.96.
09.96.
SKDS
11.96.
01.97.
03.97.
05.97.
07.97.
09.97.
(All respondents)
11.97.
7.Saeima
Elections of
03.00.
05.00.
07.00.
09.00.
11.00.
01.01.
03.01.
05.01.
07.01.
09.01.
11.01.
01.02.
03.02.
8.Saeima
05.02.
Elections of
07.02.
09.02.
11.02.
01.03.
03.03.
05.03.
07.03.
09.03.
11.03.
Government
01.04.
03.04.
05.04.
07.04.
09.04.
11.04.
01.05.
03.05.
05.05.
07.05.
09.05.
11.05.
01.06.
03.06.
05.06.
07.06.
09.06.
11.06.
01.07.
9.Saeima
03.07.
Elections of
05.07.
07.07.
09.07.
11.07.
01.08.
Trust in Parliament and
03.08.
05.08.
of Mr.
Dombrov skis
Gov ernment
03.2009
07.08.
low est (since 1996.):
(01.2009) Saeima: 4.5%
(02.2009) MK: 7.3%
09.08.
11.08.
01.09.
03.09.
05.09.
07.09.
Parliament
08.09.
Government
11.09.
01.10.
03.10.
05.10.
07.10.

3. Ethnic composition of the
Latvian society
100%
80%
8.8
29.6 29.4 29.2 29 28.8 28.6 28.5 28.3 28 27.8 27.6
34 other
Estonians
60% Germans
Roma
Jews
Lithuanians
Poles
40% Ukrainians
77.0
Byelarussians
Russians
57.7 57.9 58.2 58.5 58.6 58.8 59.0 59.0 59.2 59.3 59.4
52.0 Latvians
20%
Data: CSB
0%
1935 1989 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

4. Ethnic composition within
constituencies (citizens of RL)
100%
15.8 14.2
90% 19.2
28.2
80% 39.9
49.6
70%
Others
60% Latvians
50%
84.2 85.8
40% 80.8
71.8
30% 60.1
50.4
20%
10%
0%
Total Rīga Vidzeme Kurzeme Zemgale Latgale
Data: OCMA

5. Attitude towards the past:
USSR
What is your evaluation of the fact, that Latvia became a part of the USSR? Is
it
..very positive ..rather positive ..neutral ..rather negative ..very negative Hard to say/NA
Total 10% 19% 25% 17% 22% 8%
Latvian-speaking population 4% 11% 22% 23% 34% 6%
Russian-speaking population 20% 31% 27% 9% 3% 10%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Data: SKDS

6. Attitude towards lose of
Independence
Which of these statements, in your opinion, most precisely describes the way, how
Latvia became a part of the USSR in 1940? It was...
...voluntary decision of Latvia to join with the USSR
..invasion of the USSR into Latvia
Other
Hard to say/NA
Total 28% 48% 6% 18%
Latvian-speaking population 11% 69% 5% 15%
Russian-speaking population 55% 17% 8% 21%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Data: SKDS

7. Criteria for electoral choice:
People vs.Programms
What seems to be more important to you when thinking about yur electoral choice in
parliamental elections - persons (party leaders, nominees) or programs and statements
regarding different issues?
DK/NA; 13.9%
To me more
important thing are
politicians of the
party; 46.7%
To me more
important thing are
programms and
statements of the
party; 39.4%
Data: SKDS

8. Thinking about next parliamental elections which areas seems to be most important to you, to whom would you
pay attention when reading programms, statements and pledges of political parties?
Economy 55.8%
Growth of standard of life 53.6%
Unemployment 42.0%
Health care policy 35.4%
State finance, taxes 33.1%
Education and science 31.5%
Social policy (pensions, allowancies/benefits) 28.9%
Combat of corruption 28.5%
Agriculture 13.6%
Foreign affairs 10.0%
Public order and security (combating crime) 9.9%
Regional development 9.8%
National, ethnic problems 9.2%
Issues of state governance 8.7%
Issues of energetics 8.6%
Culture 7.8%
Issues of municipalities 6.1%
Transport and communications 6.1%
Protection of environment 5.3%
Integration of society 3.7%
Defence 2.7%
Justice 1.2%
Other 1.1%
DK/NA 8.3%
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0%
Data: SKDS

9. Criteria for electoral choice:
Old vs.New parties
Considering your choice within parliamental elections, would you prefer political party, which has
not been involved in government or political party with experience in the government?
I'd prefer political party
DK/NA; 25.2% with experience in
governmental work;
33.1%
35.7%
I'd prefer political party
previously not involved
inthe work of 25.8%
government ; 41.7%
Data: SKDS

10. Popularity of political parties
(08.2010.)
25%
Note: rating percentages refer to all those with a right to vote (not to
those who had a specific choice at the time of the survey) 21.8%
20%
17.2% 16.7%
15.3%
15%
12.1%
10%
5% 4.4% 3.9%
3.5%
1.0% 1.0% 0.9% 0.8% 0.8%
0.4% 0.2%
0%
PCTVL
VL – TB/LNNK
ZZS
Vienotība
KDS
Atbildība
Ražots Latvijā
PLL
Daugava - Latvijai
don't know
Par Prezidentālu
Tautas kontrole
Pēdējā partija
will not participate in
Saskaņas centrs
republiku
the elections
Base: citizens of the Republic of Latvia, n=862
Data: SKDS

11. 0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
7.2%
SC
40.6%
21.1%
Vienotība
2.6%
15.1%
ZZS
4.8%
5.3%
Base: citizens of the Republic of Latvia, n=862
PLL
2.4%
5.3%
VL - TB/LNNK
0.4%
1.7%
PCTVL
7.7%
Par prezidentālu 1.0%
republiku 1.2%
0.9%
Atbildība
1.3%
1.1%
Tautas kontrole
0.4%
1.2%
Ražots Latvijā
0.0%
population
population
0.9%
KDS
0.5%
Latvian speaking
Russian speaking
0.6%
Pēdējā partija
0.0%
0.3%
Daugava - Latvijai
0.0%
Popularity of political parties
Data: SKDS
22.6%
don't know
19.5%
within ethnic groups (08.2010.)
will not participate in 15.6%
the elections 18.7%

12. Political likes and dislikes
100% 2% 4% 7%
12% 12% 9%
15% won't vote for
90% 18%
23%
27%
36% 32%
80%
70% neutral
60%
50%
among
0% sympathies
4%
40%
30%
2% 5% 2nd choice
5% 1%
20% 41% 8%
3% 5%
10% 21% 4% 7%
4% 3% 4% 6%
1% 15% 5% 2%
7% 3% 4% 2% 8% 1st choice
3% 5% 5% 2% 5% 1% 1%
0% 0% 2%
ZZS (RU)
PCTVL (RU)
Vienotība (RU)
VL - TB/LNNK (RU)
ZZS (LV)
Vienotība (LV)
SC (RU)
PLL (RU)
PCTVL (LV)
VL - TB/LNNK (LV)
SC (LV)
PLL (LV)
Data: SKDS

13. Representation of political
100%
parties in Parliament
6 6 7 PCTVL
90%
16 5 SC
25 13 TSP
17
LSP
80% 16
6 "LĪDZTIESĪBA"
SL-AT
70%
24 5
18 8 JL
26 12 TP
60% LSDSP
18 LKDS
14 DCP
50% 15
23 TKL
8 LVP
40%
20 17 6 DPS
8 LZS, LKDS un LDP
30%
LZS
18 8
12 14 ZZS
20% LNNK/LZP
36
8 LNNK
7
10% 21 TB
17
10 10 TB/LNNK
0% LPP/LC
LPP (JP)
9.Saeima 8.Saeima 7.Saeima 6.Saeima 5.Saeima LC
Data: CEC

14. Thank you for
attention!
Ieva.Strode@skds.lv
+37167312876, +37129783298
Baznīcas 32-2, Rīga, LV-1010 Latvia