RIGA, June 7 (LETA) - A sociological study will be conducted to figure out why so few voters turned out for this year's local elections in Latvia and how to change this situation, Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) told journalists following Monday's coalition meeting. 

The prime minister said that as head of the government he is concerned about such results because democratic involvement is very important. However, Karins has been informed that the Cross-Sectoral Coordination Center and the State Audit Office in cooperation with the Central Election Commission will commission a sociological study, which will be conducted by an independent research company, to establish the reasons for the low voter turnout. 

"It is important for the government to understand why the voter turnout was so low, so that we can improve something and make sure it does not happen again," Karins said. He refused to give his personal opinion about the situation, saying it would be "speculations". The prime minister indicated that a serious study will provide the whole society an insight into these processes that are having a negative effect on voter turnout in elections. 

Asked if the results of the local elections might affect the work of the new government coalition, Karins said that he did not see how the local election results could affect relations between the government coalition partners. "We have successfully started consolidated coalition work. I plan and project that we will continue to cooperate successfully," the premier said. 

As reported, 327,938 voters or 34.01 percent of eligible voters cast their votes in this year's local government elections, according to the Central Election Commission's data.

This is the lowest voter turnout since the restoration of independence.