It is the first such referendum since the Baltic country of 2.2 million people broke away from the Soviet Union 20 years ago, and if successful, will result lead to snap parliamentary elections in September.

Two hours before polls closed at 1900GMT, the Central Election Commission said that only 41.3 percent of voters participated, but since the constitution establishes no quota for such a referendum, whatever result emerges will stand.

No scientific poll was conducted ahead of the vote, but pundits and an online survey by a polling institute project predicted that a majority of voters would say “yes” to dissolving the 100-seat Parliament, a move initiated by the previous president just a week before lawmakers ousted him.

Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis said he voted for sacking the nation’s parliament, the Saeima, since a new election would be an “opportunity to ensure that forces supporting the rule-of-law would have a majority” in a new legislature.

The referendum was called for in May when former President Valdis Zatlers used his presidential power to dissolve Parliament — a decision that must be supported by a majority of lawmakers.

Zatlers was angered that lawmakers had blocked an anti-corruption probe involving top legislators and businessmen.

The following week, Zatlers lost his re-election bid when legislators — who in Latvia elect the president every four years — opted for challenger Andris Berzins, a millionaire lawmaker.

Many Latvians share Zatlers’ concerns that wealthy oligarchs have achieved too much influence in politics through their personal and business links with lawmakers, or by getting into Parliament themselves, like Ainars Slesers, a real estate tycoon at the center of the corruption probe that was blocked by Parliament.

Inara Slucka said she would vote for sacking the legislature. “It’s a new opportunity to change the situation, to do something about corruption, which is problem number one in Latvia,” she said.

Pensioner Andres Apsitis said he would vote against the dissolution since new elections would mean spending money the country doesn’t have. “Any new Parliament will not be any better than the old one,” he said.

Latvia is emerging from a deep recession that in three years cut nearly one-fourth of economic output. In December 2008 the European Union and the International Monetary Fund stepped in to rescue the country from bankruptcy with a €7.5 billion bailout program, though the aid did little to alleviate widespread discontent as the government slashed spending and raised taxes.

Unemployment eventually reached nearly 25 percent, and tens of thousands of people fled the country to find work in Sweden, Britain and Ireland.

A June 28-30 online survey of 828 people by polling institute TNS Latvia showed that 75 percent of voters would support sacking Parliament in a referendum. The poll’s margin of error was three percentage points, and only included citizens from ages 18 to 55.