ABSTRACTThis report was prepared within the framework of the project Researching Public Accountability Procedures in Different European Contexts financed by the European Commission. The purpose of the report is to describe and analyze the situation with regard to public accountability procedures in Latvia.

The report describes the theoretical framework of public accountability, analyzes relevant public discourses, provides an overview of the public accountability mechanisms and procedures in Latvia, and analyzes achievements, problems and challenges.

The majority of the experts interviewed for the purpose of the report noted the insufficient openness prevalent in Latvia’s political and administrative sectors, naming problems such as corruption, dependence of political parties on various economic groupings and short-comings with regard to administrative reforms. A widespread distrust with regard to politics and a lack of skills for ensuring democratic participation lead to insufficient public demand for accountable governance.

Nevertheless, there are positive signs as well. Namely, the public accessibility of government documents is improving, the cooperation between government institutions and civil society organizations is becoming stronger and the state administration continuously launches new initiatives to facilitate public participation in policy-making. The authors of the report conclude that there is a hidden conflict between the increasing accountability of the administration and the continuously non-transparent political decision-making in Latvia.

Public Accountability Procedures in Politics in Latvia. Preliminary Report
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