Latvia for the next 45 years. The peaceful Singing Revolution, starting in 1987, called for Baltic emancipation from Soviet rule and condemning the Communist regime's illegal takeover. It ended with the Declaration on the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia on 4 May 1990, and restoring "de facto" independence on 21 August 1991. Latvia is a democratic sovereign state, parliamentary republic and a very highly developed country according to the United Nations Human Development Index. Its capital Riga served as the European Capital of Culture in 2014. Latvian is the official language. Latvia is a unitary state, divided into
Government of Latvia public. In June 2013, the Latvian government became one of the first in Europe to offer live internet broadcasts of cabinet meetings. The incumbent cabinet is the Kučinskis cabinet since 11 February 2016. On 7 December 2015 Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma resigned, which forced negotiations for a new government. The Second Straujuma cabinet served as a caretaker government until the new cabinet was sworn in. Government of Latvia The Government of Latvia is the central government of the Republic of Latvia. The Constitution of Latvia (Satversme) outlines the nation as a parliamentary republic represented by a unicameral parliament (Saeima) and