Search Recommendations
Change search criteria
Search results
Search criteria:
Page 1
Sort by: Year of election
Location: Latvia
Sort by
Latvia
2014
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
In line with previous OSCE/ODIHR recommendations and with the OSCE commitments, which specifically protect the right of individual candidates to run for office, the legislation should be revised to enable candidates to run independently.
Recommendation # in final report:
1
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Candidate Registration
Secondary thematic area:
Electoral System
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Candidate Rights and Registration
Latvia
2014
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
The blanket withdrawal of candidate rights of citizens who have committed a crime, irrespective of its gravity, is a disproportionate limitation and should be removed from the law.
Recommendation # in final report:
2
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Candidate Registration
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Candidate Rights and Registration
Latvia
2014
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
In order to create the legal basis for the effective implementation of Paragraph 8 of the 1990 Copenhagen Document and to ensure full access to all stages of the election process to observers, consideration should be given to introducing an explicit provision for election observation, in particular setting out rights and responsibilities of observers as well as accreditation arrangements.
Recommendation # in final report:
3
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Citizen and International Observation
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Election Observation
Latvia
2014
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Consistent with previous recommendations by the OSCE/ODIHR, measures should be taken to ensure the secrecy of the vote, including through voter information programmes and training of polling station officials. In addition, authorities should consider providing more and adequately designed voting booths and enlarging the number of polling stations, where necessary.
Recommendation # in final report:
4
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Election Day
Secondary thematic area:
Election Administration
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Election Day
Latvia
2014
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
In order to promote inclusive political participation, authorities should explore ways to increase the naturalization rate such as conducting campaigns to promote naturalization, publicizing opportunities for simplified naturalization under the revised Citizenship Law, and expanding the availability of free opportunities to learn Latvian. Civil society organizations should be supported in efforts to encourage non-citizens to complete the naturalization process.
Recommendation # in final report:
5
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Participation of National Minorities
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Participation of National Minorities
Latvia
2014
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration should be given to decriminalize defamation, in line with international obligations on freedom of expression.
Recommendation # in final report:
6
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Media
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Media
Latvia
2014
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
In order to further enhance transparency and public trust in the process, it is recommended that KNAB decisions, including those imposing sanctions, be published in a timely manner.
Recommendation # in final report:
7
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Campaign Financing
Latvia
2014
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration could be given to introducing temporary special legislative measures to promote women’s political participation. Political parties could consider nominating a minimum number of candidates of each gender.
Recommendation # in final report:
8
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Candidate Registration
Secondary thematic area:
Participation of Women
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Legal Framework
Latvia
2014
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Notwithstanding the narrowed scope, further review of lustration provisions should be undertaken.
Recommendation # in final report:
9
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Candidate Registration
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Legal Framework
Latvia
2014
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration could be given to providing a broader voter education in minority languages to reach out to national minority voters.
Recommendation # in final report:
10
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Participation of National Minorities
Secondary thematic area:
Election Administration
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Election Administration
Latvia
2014
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
The transparency of the information system BALSIS would be enhanced by providing accredited observers with meaningful access to key stages of its setup and its operation, as well as documentation about the system.
Recommendation # in final report:
11
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Citizen and International Observation
Secondary thematic area:
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Election Administration
Latvia
2014
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Considerations could be taken to reviewing the legislation to prevent multiple donations to individual parties within coalitions.
Recommendation # in final report:
12
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Mostly
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Campaign Financing
Latvia
2014
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration could be given to requiring all electoral contestants to provide reports on their campaign income and expenses before election day, according to a standardized template and within an acceptable time limit. These could be made public, in a timely manner, in order to improve transparency and accountability.
Recommendation # in final report:
13
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Mostly
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Campaign Financing
Latvia
2014
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
To enhance transparency and accountability, consideration could be given to requiring all electoral contestants to open dedicated bank accounts for campaign financing, through which all campaign transactions should be made.
Recommendation # in final report:
14
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Campaign Financing
Latvia
2014
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Given the importance of media diversity to democracy, measures to limit concentration of media ownership, or promote internal pluralism of media, could be considered. In addition, efforts could be made to introduce more stringent laws on transparency of media company ownership.
Recommendation # in final report:
15
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Media
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Mostly
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Media
Latvia
2014
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration could be given to using a media monitoring methodology that provides a more detailed picture of campaign coverage. The release of interim monitoring results during the campaign and full results immediately after election day would render the council’s work more effective and transparent.
Recommendation # in final report:
16
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Media
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Mostly
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Media
Latvia
2014
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration could be given to reviewing the manner of selecting the members of the NEMMC with a view to protecting the body from possible political interference.
Recommendation # in final report:
17
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Media
Type of change required:
Sub-legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Media
Latvia
2014
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
The law should be clarified and provide formal complaint mechanisms within the election administration.
Recommendation # in final report:
18
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Complaints and Appeals
Latvia
2014
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration should be given to set specific time limits for appeals of election administration and court decisions on all aspects of the electoral process in order to ensure effective means of redress.
Recommendation # in final report:
19
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Complaints and Appeals
Latvia
2018
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
The blanket restriction of candidacy rights of citizens who have committed an intentional crime, irrespective of its gravity, is disproportionate and should be revised. The law should be amended to remove the life-ban for those who have committed a crime in a state of mental disorder.
Recommendation # in final report:
1
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Candidate Registration
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Candidate Registration
Latvia
2018
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Consistent with prior ODIHR recommendations, the authorities should review the need to maintain restrictions on candidate eligibility based on prior political affiliation or occupation. Any criteria on eligibility of candidates should be objective, proportionate, and clearly provided for by law.
Recommendation # in final report:
2
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Candidate Registration
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Candidate Registration
Latvia
2018
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
The restriction on the registration of parties which were created less than one year prior to elections should be revised.
Recommendation # in final report:
3
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Candidate Registration
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Candidate Registration
Latvia
2018
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
In order to promote inclusive political participation, the authorities could further explore ways to increase the naturalization rate of adult non-citizens, such as conducting campaigns to promote naturalization, publicizing opportunities for simplified naturalization under the revised Citizenship Law in Latvian and minority languages, and expanding the availability of free opportunities to learn Latvian.
Recommendation # in final report:
4
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Participation of National Minorities
Type of change required:
Sub-legal
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Non-citizen and National Minorities Participation
Latvia
2018
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
To comply with international standards, criminal provisions for defamation should be repealed in favour of civil remedies and non-pecuniary measures designed to restore the reputation harmed.
Recommendation # in final report:
5
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Media
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Media
Latvia
2018
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
As previously recommended, consideration should be given to amending the legislation to explicitly provide for the presence of observers, both citizen and international, to ensure full compliance with paragraph 8 of the 1990 OSCE Copenhagen Document.
Recommendation # in final report:
6
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Citizen and International Observation
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Citizen and International Observation
Latvia
2018
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
The law should be clarified to provide for timely and effective review of election-related complaints and appeals, including within the election administration, and should be revised to eliminate restrictions on the standing of complainants.
Recommendation # in final report:
7
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Complaints and Appeals
Latvia
2018
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
The CEC could consider publishing on its website the minutes of its sessions, to further contribute to the transparency of its work.
Recommendation # in final report:
8
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Administration
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Election Administration
Latvia
2018
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
In line with international standards, gender disaggregated data for all stages of the electoral process should be produced and published in a comprehensive manner.
Recommendation # in final report:
9
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Participation of Women
Secondary thematic area:
Election Administration
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Election Administration
Latvia
2018
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
The CEC could consider producing detailed voter information materials in minority languages and in formats accessible for persons with impaired hearing, with a view to increasing the information outreach for different categories of voters.
Recommendation # in final report:
10
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Participation of National Minorities
Secondary thematic area:
Election Administration
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Election Administration
Latvia
2018
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
In line with good practice, and to further promote universal suffrage, the authorities could consider the implementation of a permanent voter register. Such a register should be developed in an inclusive and transparent process, well in advance of its implementation.
Recommendation # in final report:
11
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Voter Registration
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Fully
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Voter Registration
Latvia
2018
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Building upon the recent good practice of some political parties, consideration could be given to introducing special measures in the legal framework to promote women candidates. This could include a minimum number of candidates from each gender on all candidate lists or a specified placement order.
Recommendation # in final report:
12
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Participation of Women
Secondary thematic area:
Candidate Registration
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Candidate Registration
Latvia
2018
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
To enhance transparency and oversight of campaign finance, consideration could be given to requiring electoral contestants, including third parties, to provide public reports on both campaign income and expenditures during the campaign period.
Recommendation # in final report:
13
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Mostly
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Campaign Finance
Latvia
2018
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
To enhance oversight mechanisms, consideration could be given to requiring all electoral contestants to open dedicated bank accounts for campaign financing, through which all campaign transactions should be made.
Recommendation # in final report:
14
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Campaign Finance
Latvia
2018
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
To enhance transparency and public trust in the process, the law could be amended to require publication of all KNAB decisions related to the election campaign, subject to reasonable exceptions pertaining to privacy and personal data protection.
Recommendation # in final report:
15
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Secondary thematic area:
Campaign
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Campaign Finance
Latvia
2018
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Regulations on disclosure of media ownership should be revised to ensure full transparency in a publicly accessible format.
Recommendation # in final report:
16
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Media
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Mostly
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Media
Latvia
2018
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
To ensure the independence of and public trust in the media regulator, members of the parliament should refrain from intervening in the work of the media authority.
Recommendation # in final report:
17
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Media
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Mostly
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Media
Latvia
2018
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
The NEMMC could consider publishing decisions regarding all processed complaints in a timely manner to enhance the transparency of its work and reinforce public confidence in its actions.
Recommendation # in final report:
18
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Media
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Media
Latvia
2018
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Measures should be taken to ensure the secrecy of the vote, including through voter information programs and targeted training for PSC members. The polling station layout and the positioning of voting screens and booths should be arranged in a way to guarantee the secrecy of the vote.
Recommendation # in final report:
19
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Day
Type of change required:
Sub-legal
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2022
Final report heading:
Election Day
Latvia
2022
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
To ensure the operational independence and efficiency of the Central Election Commission, adequate financial and human resources should be allocated in a timely manner. Authorities should consider increasing the capacity of the IT Department to manage and ensure the security of the electronic infrastructure and to organize procurement procedures.
Recommendation # in final report:
1
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Election Administration
Secondary thematic area:
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Election Administration
Latvia
2022
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
The Central Election Commission should be provided with sufficient resources to prepare and implement comprehensive and timely voter education programs, including in minority languages and for young and first-time voters and for voters with different disabilities.
Recommendation # in final report:
2
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Election Administration
Secondary thematic area:
Participation of National Minorities
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Election Administration
Latvia
2022
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
In line with OSCE commitments and international standards, the electoral legislation should provide the possibility for independent candidates to participate in elections. The parliament should remove the restriction on the submission of candidates by political parties registered less than one year before the elections.
Recommendation # in final report:
3
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Candidate Registration
Secondary thematic area:
Electoral System
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Candidate Registration
Latvia
2022
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Defamation should be decriminalized in favour of civil remedies, in line with international obligations on the freedom of expression.
Recommendation # in final report:
4
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Media
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Media
Latvia
2022
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
The legislation should be revised to explicitly provide for the access of citizen and international observers to all stages of the election process, in line with OSCE commitments.
Recommendation # in final report:
5
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Citizen and International Observation
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Citizen and International Observers
Latvia
2022
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
The parliament should consider removing or establishing a time limit on restrictions on the right to stand based on previous political activities, in order to conform with the 2006 European Court of Human Rights ruling and international standards.
Recommendation # in final report:
6
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Candidate Registration
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Candidate Registration
Latvia
2022
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
The electoral legislation should ensure and contain safeguards to protect the freedom of expression in election campaigns, including the right to campaign in minority languages, in line with international standards and OSCE commitments.
Recommendation # in final report:
7
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Campaign
Secondary thematic area:
Participation of National Minorities
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Electoral System and Legal Framework
Latvia
2022
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
In line with international standards, gender-disaggregated data on the election administration and on voter participation should be collected and published in a comprehensive manner. The election administration could also collect data on the participation of youth and first-time voters, to inform voter outreach and education methods.
Recommendation # in final report:
8
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Participation of Women
Secondary thematic area:
Election Administration
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Election Administration
Latvia
2022
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Political parties should adopt effective internal mechanisms for strengthening women’s participation and representation within political parties. The legislature should consider additional measures to promote the electoral participation of women, such as through legal quotas on candidate lists, or financial incentives linked to public funding.
Recommendation # in final report:
9
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Participation of Women
Secondary thematic area:
Candidate Registration
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Candidate Registration
Latvia
2022
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
To strengthen the electoral participation of persons with disabilities, political parties should provide their programmes, campaign messages and materials in formats appropriate, accessible and easy to understand by persons with various types of disabilities. Legal or financial incentives could be introduced to encourage accessible campaign content.
Recommendation # in final report:
10
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Campaign
Secondary thematic area:
Participation of Persons with Disabilities
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Election Campaign
Latvia
2022
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration should be given to introducing additional criteria for the allocation of state funding to political parties to promote the political participation of under-represented groups, including in the period between elections.
Recommendation # in final report:
11
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Secondary thematic area:
Participation of Women
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Campaign Finance
Latvia
2022
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
The Law on Financing Political Organizations should be revised to require the publication of all decisions of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau related to the election campaign and campaign financing, subject to reasonable exceptions pertaining to personal data protection.
Recommendation # in final report:
12
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Secondary thematic area:
Campaign
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Campaign Finance
Latvia
2022
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
To safeguard the independence of the public broadcaster, legislation should ensure an adequate and sustainable financing mechanism.
Recommendation # in final report:
13
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Media
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Media
Latvia
2022
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
In line with good electoral practice, consideration should be given to allowing individual voters to file complaints, in particular, but not limited to, on election results. The law should provide clear and expedited timelines for the resolution of all election-related disputes.
Recommendation # in final report:
14
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Election Dispute Resolution
Latvia
2022
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration should be given to improving the layout of polling stations and the design of polling booths, with the aim of ensuring the secrecy of the vote.
Recommendation # in final report:
15
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Administration
Secondary thematic area:
Election Day
Type of change required:
Sub-legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Election Day
Searching for results