Perception of Political Leadership in Local Governments in Latvia

Abstract

Theme of the paper is political leadership in local governments in Latvia. The work uses secondary data analysis and case studies. The aim of the study is to find out what kind of role does the chairperson of the municipality have as a political leader and what kinds of factors are influencing him/her. The results revealed that formally the chairperson of the municipality has no decisive influence on the municipality and that both types of factors (internal and external) interact with each other limiting the political leader’s (chairperson’s of a municipality) freedom of action.

Political Budget Cycles and Mayoral Influence in Latvian Municipalities: An Examination of Revenue, Expenditure, and Electoral Dynamics

“…Every four years, voters who have expressed support for the chairperson of their local government council assess the political leader's -the Mayor's performance, evaluating the results achieved and the work carried out or left undone. Mayors at the municipal level hold positions that require the ability to identify, address, and resolve existing regional issues, often requiring compromise, especially in cases where the City Council Mayor's Party does not hold a majority (Stučka, 2018).…”

“…Additionally, the Mayor is entrusted with recommending issue examinations, preparing submissions for other institutions, proposing the dismissal of local administrative institution heads, and fulfilling other obligations stipulated in relevant laws. The Mayor serves on a full-time basis and holds the position of the financial commission's head, affording them a significant role in regulating the administration and local government operations and the budget adoption process (Saeima, 2023;Stučka, 2018). managing the finance committee, representing the local government in various meetings and legal proceedings, and signing legal documents on behalf of the municipality.…”