Ex-banker elected as Latvian president
RIGA – A former banker and current member of parliament was elected as president of Latvia on Thursday at a time of high political tension after the outgoing state leader moved to dissolve the legislature, Reuters reported.
In Latvia, parliament chooses the president. In a second round of voting, 53 lawmakers backed Andris Berzins, 66, defeating incumbent, Valdis Zatlers, who has called a referendum to fire parliament.
The winner needed 51 of parliament's 100 votes.
The choice of a different president does not affect the dissolution process, on which a referendum will be held on July 23. Most pollsters expect people to support removing the current parliament. New elections would then be held in September.
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