Latvia's Referendum Could Affect Foreign Policy

Latvia will hold a referendum July 23 on the dissolution of the country's parliament. Then-President Valdis Zatlers announced the referendum May 28 after he criticized the corrupt and "oligarchic" nature of some lawmakers. Polls indicate that if the referendum passes, which is likely, the makeup of the ruling coalition in the Latvian parliament will change. Russia, which has a workable relationship with Latvia, could use the political shakeup to increase its influence in Riga and in the Baltics.