Latvian voters appear ready to sack their lawmakers in a referendum

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Latvian voters appear ready to sack their lawmakers in a referendum
By Associated Press, Updated: Saturday, July 23, 4:02 PM

RIGA, Latvia — Latvians were poised to sack their Parliament in a historic referendum Saturday as the recession-weary country attempts to sever a culture of graft between politics and business.

With 42 percent of votes counted, nearly 95 percent of voters supported the legislature’s dissolution, the Central Election Commission announced.

Only a simple majority is needed to sack Parliament, regardless of voter turnout. Commission data showed that less than 45 percent of registered voters participated.

It is the first such referendum since the Baltic country of 2.2 million people broke away from the Soviet Union 20 years ago, and if successful, will result lead to snap parliamentary elections in September.





Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/latvian-voters-appear-ready-to-sack-their-parliament-in-a-national-referendum/2011/07/23/gIQA5TfXVI_story.html

[dtotire]

1. They Can Do That In A Parliamentary Democracy

If the legislature cannot come to an agreement on issues, the head of state (president, Prime Minister,etc) can call for new elections and let the people decide. Most of the Western democracies have a parliament which operates the same way. They aren't perfect, but in some ways they are more efficient. If the writers of the Constitution could see the problems our system has they might have chosen a Parliamentary Democracy.