Political parties are organisations established to perform political activities, such as standing for elections, nominating their candidates for official positions, participating in the work of the bodies to which their members have been elected, and implementing party programmes. The right to form and join a political party is a constitutionally protected right.
You may either support the activities of an already existing political party by participating in its activities, donating to it, or becoming a member of the party, or form your own political party.
note Members of certain professions where political impartiality is generally accepted as important for the fulfilment of official functions are prohibited from joining political parties. These include members of the national armed forces, prosecutors, and judges.
How to join a political party?
If you have decided to join a certain political party, you may either follow the instructions for joining indicated on the party’s website or get in touch with the party via the information available on the website. However, common practice is for parties to require recommendations from current party members in order to join, or, for some parties, to provide these recommendations following an interview.
As a member of a party, you have the right to:
- participate in the taking of party decisions
- elect the executive board and other bodies of the party
- run for candidate at the elections of party officials
- receive information regarding the activities of the party, as well as to freely express your opinion
- dispute the decisions taken by the party
- withdraw from the party
- decide on the candidates for election to local government, the parliament, and the European Parliament
Other rights as well as obligations of members may be provided for in the articles of association of the party.
note The names and surnames of party members are publicly available information accessible to anyone.
How to establish a political party?
According to the Law on Political Parties, a party may be established by no less than 200 citizens of Latvia who have reached 18 years of age. To establish a political party, you must:
- draft its programme and articles of association
- elect a board
- select an institution that will conduct the economic and financial audit of the party
The Law on Political Parties also prescribes other criteria for the establishment of political parties, including requirements for the decision regarding the establishment of the party, the articles of association, and registration of the party in the Party Register.
It also lists restrictions on the operation of parties. They disallow the taking of action against the independence and territorial integrity of Latvia, expressing or disseminating proposals on a forceful amendment of the structure of the State, propagating violence, terrorism, outright Nazism, fascism, or communism ideology, war, and others. Some restrictions apply also to the naming and symbolism of parties.
What human rights violation may there be?
The inability to join or establish a political party or restrictions on the party’s operation, including banning the party, may all constitute a violation of the freedom of assembly. International law allows restrictions on the operation of political parties, but the States have a narrow margin of appreciation – only convincing and compelling reasons can justify restrictions on the parties’ freedom of association.
Read more about the restrictions on freedom of association in this Guide.