Latvian Way

Latvian Way (Latvijas Ceļjs) was a conservative-liberal political party in Latvia that took a leading part in the governments formed after the country regained independence. It was founded on 25 September 1993 by former activists of the Popular Front of Latvia together with Latvian exiles who had returned home. In its first election in 1993 it won 32.4 percent of the vote and led a coalition government, and it then sat in every Latvian coalition government from July 1993 until November 2002. Four of its members served as prime minister: Valdis Birkavs from 1993 to 1994, Māris Gailis from 1994 to 1995, Vilis Krištopans from 1998 to 1999 and Andris Bērziņš from 2000 to 2002, and Ivars Godmanis joined after his own term in office. Its support fell to 4.9 percent in 2002, below the five percent threshold for seats. The party described itself as a liberal party defending people's freedom to shape their own lives and belonged to Liberal International. It merged with Latvia's First Party in 2007 to form the joint list known as LPP/LC.