The rise and restructuring of Latvia's centrist social liberal movement
In short: How does a political party survive the collapse of its primary alliance? Movement For! navigated a volatile landscape of defections, electoral losses, and leadership overhauls to maintain its identity as a pro-European voice in Latvian politics, moving from a small group of defectors to a structured social liberal organization.
Formed in August 2017, Movement For! (Kustība Par!) established itself as a centrist, social liberal party in Latvia. Its early presence in the Saeima was unique, as it gained representation not through a direct election, but via the defection of four members from the Unity party in July 2017. This initial foothold was short-lived, however, as the party lost all its parliamentary seats by April 2018 following the retirement and resignation of those original members.
To gain broader influence, the party formed the Development/For! electoral alliance in March 2018 with the Latvian Development and Growth parties. This alliance successfully entered the Kariņš cabinet after placing fourth in the October 2018 parliamentary elections. However, the alliance faced a significant setback in 2022, losing all its seats. While the alliance was technically dissolved, it remains registered under the initials PLI to preserve state funding.
The party's internal structure has undergone radical shifts. Following the 2022 losses, the leadership transitioned from a large 11-member board to a three-chairperson model in December 2022, before eventually consolidating into a three-person board in September 2024 led by Linda Curika. Despite these fluctuations, the party maintains a clear manifesto: advocating for public health, the rule of law, and close cooperation with the EU and NATO. As of March 2026, the party reported a membership of 500 people.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Movement For!
- Also: Movement For!
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