Latvian Association of Regions

The Latvian Association of Regions or Latvian Regional Alliance (Latvian: Latvijas Reģionu apvienība, LRA) is a centrist[2][3][4] political party in Latvia.

Latvian Association of Regions
Latvijas Reģionu apvienība
AbbreviationLRA
LeaderEdvards Smiltēns
FounderMārtiņš Bondars
Founded13 March 2014 (13 March 2014) (alliance)
29 August 2020 (29 August 2020) (party)
Merger ofRegional Alliance
Vidzeme Party
For Ogre Municipality
HeadquartersRiga, Mazā Smilšu iela 12–3, LV-1050
Membership (2019) 2,000 [1]
IdeologyCentrism
Regionalism[2]
Political positionCentre[2][3][4]
European Parliament groupEuropean Conservatives and Reformists
Colours  Maroon
  Navy blue
Saeima
0 / 100
European Parliament
0 / 8
Riga City Council
3 / 60
Mayors
7 / 43
Website
apvieniba.lv

It was founded as an alliance on 13 March 2014 and is headed by former MP Edvards Smiltēns. It won 8 seats in the Saeima at the 2014 parliamentary election.[5] The LRA contested the elections as a political alliance of several smaller regionalist parties, including the Regional Alliance, the LSDSP, the Christian Democratic Union and the Vidzeme Party. The first leader of the alliance was Mārtiņš Bondars until stepping down and leaving the alliance in 2017, after which he was succeeded by Nellija Kleinberga.[6][7] In the lead up to the 2018 elections, the LSDSP and the Christian Democrats left the alliance.

On 22 August 2020, two of the parties making up the alliance – For Ogre Municipality and the Regional Alliance voted to reorganize LRA into a single political party. The other members – the Vidzeme Party and three NGOs voted to continue as affiliated cooperation partners under the LRA banner.[8]

Election results

Saeima
Election Leader Votes  % Seats +/– Government
2014 Mārtiņš Bondars 60,812 6.71 (#5)
8 / 100
 Opposition
2018 Edvards Smiltēns 35,018 4.17 (#8)
0 / 100
 8 Extra-parliamentary

European Parliament
Election Votes  % Seats +/–
2014 11,035 2.5 (#3)
0 / 8
2019 23,581 4.98
0 / 8

References
  1. "Latvijas Reģionu Apvienība. Stipri reģioni. Stipra Latvija. Apvieniba.lv - Apvieniba.lv - Latvijas Reģionu Apvienības partijas oficiālā mājas lapa" (in Latvian). Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  2. Nordsieck, Wolfram (2018). "Latvia". Parties and Elections in Europe. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  3. University College London (8 October 2014). "Latvia's elections: Can there be harmony without Harmony?". UCL SSEES Research Blog. University College London. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  4. "Par mums - Latvijas Reģionu Apvienība".
  5. "12.Saeimas vēlēšanas".
  6. "Leading politician quits Regional Alliance". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. March 20, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  7. "Leader of Latvian Association of Regions announces his departure". Baltic News Network. March 20, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  8. Anstrate, Vita (2020-08-22). "Latvijas Reģionu apvienība pārtapusi partijā" [The Latvian Association of Regions has become a party]. www.lsm.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2020-09-03.
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