People's Parliament

Occupation

Main article: Occupation of the Baltic states

On 15 and 16 June 1940, the Soviet Union presented ultimatums to all three Baltic states, which were then invaded by the Red Army. After the invasions, the previous governments of the Baltic states were replaced by pro-Communist "People's Governments". The new governments then dismissed the existing parliaments (Riigikogu in Estonia, Seimas in Lithuania) and announced new elections to the "People's Parliaments" to be held on 14 and 15 July 1940 (originally, the election in Lithuania was to be held only on 14 July, but due to low turnout, it was also extended to 15 July).

Elections

Only candidates proposed by legally functioning institutions could run in each election. By that time, all non-communist parties and organizations were outlawed. Therefore, only the Working People's Leagues proposed candidates, exactly one per each available seat. Most candidates on its slate were non-communists, but this was not considered crucial due to the way Soviet-style regimes operated. Efforts to present alternative candidates were blocked. The ballots had only one option – the name chosen by the Communists. According to the rigged results, Working People's Leagues candidates received over 90% of the vote. The Soviet envoy in London released election results even before the voting booths closed.

Parliament sessions and aftermath

All three parliaments convened on 21 July 1940. In their first sessions, all three parliaments unanimously adopted resolutions to convert their states to Soviet Socialist Republics (SSR): the Estonian SSR, Latvian SSR, and Lithuanian SSR. They also petitioned the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union to accept these newly established SSRs as constituent republics of the Soviet Union. The parliaments also elected their representatives to go to Moscow and personally present their case in front of the Supreme Soviet. Other acts adopted in these early sessions concerned nationalization of virtually all larger enterprises, real estate, and land, and other Sovietization policies. The resolutions were adopted unanimously, with virtually no discussion.

On 1 August, the Baltic delegates arrived to Moscow and petitioned the Supreme Soviet. After apparent deliberation, the Lithuanian request was granted on 3 August, the Latvian request on 5 August, and the Estonian request on 6 August.

References

References

1. International Political Science Association. Research Committee of Legislative Specialists. (1998). "World encyclopedia of parliaments and legislatures". Congressional Quarterly.
2. Senn, Alfred Erich. (2007). "Lithuania 1940: Revolution from Above". Rodopi.
3. Vardys, Vytas Stanley. (1997). "Lithuania: The Rebel Nation". WestviewPress.
4. Misiunas, Romuald J.. (1993). "The Baltic States: Years of Dependence 1940–1990". University of California Press.
5. O'Connor, Kevin. (2003). "The history of the Baltic States". Greenwood Publishing Group.
6. Mangulis, Visvaldis. (1983). "Latvia in the Wars of the 20th century". Princeton Junction: Cognition Books.