NID: USSR: NATIONALISTS GAIN IN LATVIAN ELECTIONS

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: The Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe: A 30-Year Legacy
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06826828
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 26, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 10, 2019
• Publication Date: December 16, 1989

Approved for Release: 2019/10/29 C06826828
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USSR: Nationalists Gain it'. Latvian Elections
Preliminary reports indicate that. as expected. Popular Front
candiJates won at least 60 percent of the nearly 13.000 city and
distrkt races decided in Latvia last Sunday. Most victorious front
candiJates. many of whom are reform-minded Communist Party
members. apparently defeated rivals backed by the Communist
Party apparatus. Only 153 officials from the party apparatus ran:
90 reportedly won seats. Runofis will be held this weekend in more
thar. .800 districts. Results of similar elections in Estonia last
Sunday. in which nationalist candidates are also expected to fare well.
are doe this weekend. In both republics, the fronts represent a broad
coalit:on favoring gradual but determined pursuit of independence.
Comment: The Latvian front appears poised to do at least as cell in
republic legislative elections next March. putting it in a powerful
positi3n to push the nationalist agenda. The party apparatus
apparently chose to run only officials it thought had a chance of
winning, hoping to avoid an embarrassing rout. The poor
performance of apparatus-backed candidates presages reduced status
and p3wer for party members whose firsi ioyalty is to Moscow. Those
who .on council scats with front support are likely to support the
nationalist agenda over the party's interests.
NR Record
7
SOCItt
TCS 2991/89
16 December 1989
Approved for Release: 2019/10/29 C06826828