People's Party (Latvia)
People's Party Tautas partija | |
|---|---|
European People's Party (2004–2009) | |
| Colours | Orange |
The People's Party (Latvian: Tautas partija, TP) was a conservative[1] political party in Latvia. The People's Party was the leader of three governments and a member of another four.
History
Tautas partija was founded in 1998 by Andris Šķēle, a businessman and former prime minister, who was the chairman of the party until 2002. Because of Šķēle's powerful personality, many voters identified the party with its leader during this period. In 2002, Šķēle exited politics and Atis Slakteris became the chairman of Tautas partija. At the October 2002 elections the party became the third largest in the Saeima (parliament), winning 16.7% of the vote and 20 seats. In 2004, People's Party member Aigars Kalvītis became prime minister.
At the
Tautas partija was a member of the European People's Party (EPP).
On July 9, 2011, 248 out of 308 party congress delegates voted to disband the People's Party. According to some political analysts[who?], it was done in order to avoid repaying a Ls1.03 million campaign donation it received and spent illegally in 2006, but party chairman Andris Šķēle denied that.[3] On September 22, 2016, the Senate of the Supreme Court of Latvia refused People’s Party appeal against the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau's decision to make it pay back 1.03 million lats,[4] however on December 16, 2011, the People's Party was declared insolvent by the Riga City Central District Court.[5]
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-313-39181-1.
- ^ Bakke, Elisabeth (2010), "Central and East European party systems since 1989", Central and Southeast European Politics Since 1989, Cambridge University Press, p. 79
- ^ "People's Party, Skele, ride off into the sunset". The Baltic Times. July 13, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
- ^ "People's Party ordered to pay anti-corruption bureau 1.03 million lats". Baltic News Network. LETA. September 22, 2011. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
- ^ "Court declares People's Party insolvent". Baltic News Network. LETA. December 16, 2011. Retrieved February 7, 2012.