[3] A total of 1,239 candidates representing 13 parties or alliances stood in five electoral constituencies equivalent to the four regions of Latvia and Riga city.

With 1012 of 1013 polling stations counted, results showed an increase in support for the incumbent coalition government of Valdis Dombrovskis, with 58% of the vote and 63 of the 100 seats.

[9] Zatlers stated on 23 February 2009 that early elections might be necessary, and that he was willing to extend the deadline for reforms from 31 March for one week to 7 April 2009 due to the collapse of the government.

[11] Zatlers stated he would hold talks with politicians from all parties on 31 March 2009 and announce his assessment of the situation on the same day.

[15] The so-called "locomotive law" (Latvian: lokomotīvju likuma) meant that candidates were restricted to standing in one constituency.

[25] According to a poll[26] conducted in June by Latvijas fakti, Harmony Centre would get 18.5% of the vote; Unity, 16.2%; Union of Greens and Farmers, 11.3%; For a Good Latvia, 5.3% and National Alliance, 4.4%.

A later Latvijas Fakti poll conducted between 25 and 27 September 2010 showed 21.2% support for Harmony Centre, 19.2% for Unity, 9.9% for Greens and Farmers and For Fatherland and Freedom on 5.2%.

[27] OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission provided, among others, the following recommendations: Though the result made a variety of coalition options possible,[29] including a coalition government formed by Harmony Centre and The Union of Greens and Farmers,[29] Dombrovskis said that Unity and the Greens and Farmers had agreed to continue working together and form a government, to be approved by parliament on 2 November.

[30] However Dombrovskis also said that he was seeking a cooperation deal with Harmony Centre in a bid to win additional support for further budget cuts.