ABSTRACT
Latvia based its struggle for re-gaining independence on the principle of the legal continuity of the republic. This approach was crucial for adopting a parliamentary system that closely resembled the institutional arrangement before the 1934 coup. The Saeima, a unicameral parliament, is solely entrusted with law-making while the cabinet depends on the confidence of the parliament. The president and all judges are chosen by the parliament. Although the role of the Saeima as a lawmaking body has been notably diminishing, its powers of appointment make it a key political institution.1 Consequently, parliamentary elections are regarded as the most important political event during the four-year electoral cycle.
