RIGA, Latvia — Latvians voted to sack their Parliament in a historic referendum Saturday as the recession-weary country attempts to dismantle a culture of graft existing between politics and business.
With about 73 percent of ballots counted, 94.7 percent of voters supported the legislature’s dissolution, according to Central Election Commission data early today, setting the stage for a snap parliamentary election in September. It was the first such referendum since the Baltic country of 2.2 million people broke away from the Soviet Union 20 years ago.
The dissolution is a victory for Valdis Zatlers, the man who risked and lost his presidency when he called for the referendum in May after lawmakers blocked an anti-corruption probe involving lawmaker Ainars Slesers, who is known for cozy ties with businessmen.
