Latvia holds parliamentary election amid multi-party contest

RIGA -- Voting in the Latvian parliamentary election began on Saturday morning, with 1,428 candidates vying for 100 seats in the 15th Saeima, Latvia's parliament.

Polling stations across Latvia opened at 8 am local time (0500 GMT), and voting will continue until 8 pm. A total of 14 political parties and party coalitions participated in the election. According to the Central Election Commission of Latvia, a total of 933 polling stations were set up across the country and 88 overseas for this election.

The main political forces participating in this election include the current government's ruling coalition, namely the United List, the New Unity, the National Alliance, as well as the Union of Greens and Farmers. In addition, political parties and alliances such as The Progressives, the Latvia First, the For Stability!, the Harmony Centre, and the New Conservative Party are also competing.

Under Latvia's electoral system, 100 seats in the parliament are produced through proportional representation. Besides, each political party or political alliance must obtain at least 5 percent of the vote to enter the parliament.

According to the country's constitution, after the new parliament is formed, the president will hold consultations with the political forces entering the parliament and invite the candidate for prime minister to form a new government. The new government must be approved by a vote of confidence in the parliament before it can assume its duties.