Latvia parliament to elect president

RIGA, June 2 (Itar-Tass) --The members of the Latvian Saeima
(parliament) will elect a new president of the country on Thursday, June 2.
There are two candidates: incumbent President Valdis Zatlers and MP
and former banker Andris Berzins.
Zatlers was nominated by the Unity association (Vienotiba), which is
part of the ruling coalition, and the opposition "For Good Latvia"
movement (Par labu Latviju).
The opposition nationalism association "For Fatherland and
Freedom/LNNK" (Latvian: Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK), and partly the Greens
and Peasants' Union have also promised support to Zatlers.
Berzins was nominated by five MP from the Greens and Peasants' Union,
which he represents in the parliament.
In order to become president, a candidate needs the support of at
least 51 of 100 MPs. If none of the candidates receives a majority of
votes, a new round is announced with new candidates.
Zatlers had no big popular support in the middle of May, as only 27.3
percent of people wanted him to stay in office for a second term. However
last Saturday he put forth a historic initiative to hold a referendum on
the dissolution of the parliament and accused its members of servicing the
interests of oligarchs and "selling posts".
Under the Latvian Constitution, the head of state is elected by the
parliament. The president has only representative functions, as all
executive power is in the hands of the government, and legislative power
is exercised by parliament.