A referendum on whether the Saeima should be dissolved early was held in Latvia on 23 July 2011.

[1] President Valdis Zatlers used his parliamentary dissolution power for the first time in the history of Latvia.

[2] Zatlers called the referendum in response to the Saeima's refusal to sanction a search at the home of MP Ainārs Šlesers, leader of Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way and a former cabinet minister.

[3] According to the current legal procedure, the referendum on the Saeima's dissolution had to take place no later than two months after the President's decree.

[4] The Constitution of Latvia foresaw that if the people had not supported Zatlers' decision, he would have had to resign from the presidency.