My idea to improve election process would be to create simple scorecard: 5 Objectives, Goals, strategies, measures. For next 4 years and summary of results for previous 4 years. It would create some clarity on the "product" that parties are "selling" and create responsibility for commitments they make. While I do hear some voices already that politics shall be not mixed with business systems, for some reason I believe that politics is not about "hot air" and "fluff".
Programms of parties are available at official page of ellections, so if interested, you may have a deeper look yourself.
#1 "Latvijas attīstībai". Led by prominent ex-central banker and "probably Martian". Promises not to rise taxes, to reduce tax for employees by 9%, to nationalize pension funds. I like the promise to raise salaries for teachers to 1100 EUR, but I am in the conflict of interest in this one. Softer promises are to achieve excellence in education. Support manufacturing (how?) and increase salaries (and how to support manufacturing?). I liked that programm of this party is very short. That is reassuring.
#2 "Suverenitāte". Quit EU, Euro, raise salaries, progressive tax on personal income, free public transportation. Very few specific ideas.
#3 Partija "Brīvība. Brīvs no bailēm, naida un dusmām". Very interesting programm. Nothing specific about economy, but one thing I like from their short programm - to minimize number of state and municipality aparatus. Unfortunately, it is not clear how much and how. Also the idea that statemen shall be respobsible for their actions (decisions that have been made since regaining independence) is interesting but very fluffy.
#4 Partija "Vienotība". As currently ruling coalition party, motto is simple - we will keep doing what we were doing so far. We (party, not people that actually were cutting their meals to 2times a da) have saved Latvia from bancruptcy and are the only ones that know how to lead the country. If you have been watching news for last 4 years, nothing new really.
#5 "POLITISKĀ PARTIJA IZAUGSME". Nothing special. 5% from GDP to medicine, 1,5% to R&D, progressive tax on income, fight with shadow economy.
#6 Partija "Vienoti Latvijai". Party of ex-prime ministers. Programm - we have learnt from our mistakes before, now we will do only right things to save Latvia. Give us another chance! Jokes aside, they have very specific tasks and objectives in their programm. Actually, it is very close to the scorecard I am suggesting. One thing is missing - good review of their previous performance vs objectives...
#7 Nacionālā apvienība "Visu Latvijai!"-"Tēvzemei un Brīvībai/LNNK". Latvia for Latvians. Programm that is built on desires of Latvians to be rulers in their own land, but... look how many of top 100 companies still belong to Latvians in Latvia. Regarding their programm - it is very specific report on what is done so far. Actually combining their programm with ex-ministers, we would get perfect scorecard!
#8 Latvijas Reģionu Apvienība. As defined by the name, they are for fair development and treatment of all regions of Latvia. Not sure, if they are communicating enough to people in underdeveloped regions, that this party will be fighting for their rights. They have made some nice efforts to elevate programm to values (honesty, fairness, family etc), but otherwise, regular suspects (2% to NATO, fair taxation etcO
#9 Jaunā konservatīvā partija. Try to capture segment of electorate that looks for new kids on the block. They claim they are not necessarily popular but they are young professionals. Programm does not have a single number, rather very broad guidelines of action. Impossible to measure.
#10 "Latvijas Krievu savienība". Russians, as in the name "Russians United". Fighting for rights of Russians and Russian language to become second official language of the state, together with Latvian. Everything else does not really matter.
#11 "Saskaņa" sociāldemokrātiskā partija. Leader of Riga municipality proposes socialdemocratic approach. Specific ideas (9% micro enterprise tax, 0 tax on reinvested profit etc) are good but common. One can feel though that Nil is sure he will lead Riga for long still - one of proposals is to share income from enterprise profit tax with municipalities (to stimulate job creation). One can see Riga being the biggest beneficiary of this...
#12 Zaļo un Zemnieku savienība. What started once as focus support for agriculture, evolved into "one man from Ventspils pocket party" now is something in between. In a nutshell they want to support everyone and everything, but financing is secondary. They just try to promise less and to be liked by more.
#13 No sirds Latvijai. To Latvia from heart. The only party, where name of founder - Inguna Sudraba - is prominently built into programm of the party. Party is "team created by Inguna Sudraba". Assumption of the party - so far people were dishonest, but now we will all change. We need to change. While it sounds right, how the change will be made remains unclear, at least from the programm.