(23 Jul 2011)
1. Wide of Vansu Bridge and Daugava River
2. Close-up of sign on parliament building
3. Wide of parliament building
4. Various of people preparing polling station
5. Wide of first people entering polling station
6. Passport of voter being checked
7. Voter (Erika Kristiansene - see shot 10) casting her ballot
8. Voter's passport being stamped
9. Voter (Anna Purina - see shot 12) casting her ballot
10. SOUNDBITE (Latvian) Vox pop, Erika Kristiansene, Latvian voter:
"In this parliament there is not the backbone so we vote for the dismissal of the Saeima (Latvian parliament). We agree with the decision of the former President Zatlers about the dissolution."
11. Poster at polling station
12. SOUNDBITE (Latvian) Vox pop, Anna Purina, Latvian voter:
"I'm voting for the dismissal of the Saeima because something needs to change. I'm not old enough to know how things should be, but we want to change."
12. Latvian flag outside polling station
13. People getting off bus
STORYLINE:
Latvians could vote to give get rid of their government on Saturday in a referendum triggered by concerns over cosy relationships between Parliament and powerful oligarchs in one of Europe's poorest countries.
No scientific poll has been conducted ahead of the vote, but pundits and an online survey by a polling institute project that a majority of voters will say "yes" to dissolving the 100-seat Parliament - a move initiated by the previous president just a week before lawmakers ousted him.
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 in snap parliamentary elections in September.
Former head of state Valdis Zatlers used his presidential powers to call the referendum in May after lawmakers blocked an anti-corruption probe involving top legislators and businessmen.
The following week Zatlers lost his re-election bid when legislators - who in Latvia elect the president every four years - opted for challenger Andris Berzins, a millionaire lawmaker.
Many Latvians share Zatlers' concerns that wealthy oligarchs have achieved too much influence in politics through their personal and business links with lawmakers, or by getting into Parliament themselves, like Ainars Slesers, a real estate tycoon at the centre of the corruption probe that was blocked by Parliament.
"In this Parliament there is not the backbone so we vote for the dismissal of the Saeima (Latvian parliament). We agree with the decision of the former President Zatlers about the dissolution," said one voter, Erika Kristiansene.
Latvia is emerging from a deep recession that in three years has cut nearly a quarter of economic output.
In December 2008 the European Union and the International Monetary Fund stepped in to rescue the country from bankruptcy with a 7.5 (b) billion euro (10.5 (b) billion US dollars) bailout, though the aid did little to alleviate widespread discontent as the government slashed spending and raised taxes.
Unemployment eventually reached nearly 25 percent, and tens of thousands of people fled the country to find work in Sweden, Britain and Ireland.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
