A former Latvian political party, Reģionu alianse (Regional Alliance), has ceased operations after merging with a larger political force. The party, initially founded in 2005 as “Rīgas apriņķa novadu apvienība” (Riga District Rural Association), underwent two name changes before its dissolution in August 2020.
The organization began as a collective of leaders from several large parishes in the Pierīga region, according to information from Wikipedia. It evolved into the Regional Party and, the Regional Alliance in 2012, aiming to broaden its base beyond the initial Riga-area focus.
Reģionu alianse was part of the Latvian Regional Association, a broader political alliance. In 2020, the party integrated into a newly formed party operating under the same name – Latvian Regional Association – effectively ending its independent existence.
The party’s origins trace back to 2005, when leaders from the Ādaži, Babīte, Ropaži and Olaine parishes, along with representatives from Garkalne and Ķekava parishes, established the “Rīgas apriņķa novadu apvienība” with over 200 supporters. Normunds Breidaks, then chairman of the Ādaži parish council, was elected as the party’s first chairman.
The impetus for forming the party stemmed from a change in Latvian election law that required political parties to field candidates in towns and parishes with populations exceeding 5,000. In 2009, the party was renamed the Regional Party, and in 2012, it became “Reģionu alianse.”
From 2011 to 2018, Andrejs Ence, chairman of the Babīte municipality council, led the political force. The dissolution of Reģionu alianse marks a shift in the Latvian political landscape, as regional parties continue to consolidate and adapt to evolving electoral regulations. This restructuring reflects a broader trend of political realignment within the country.
