Latvian voters went to the polls in a parliamentary election taking place within a context of perceived security concerns linked to Russia and widespread domestic economic hardship. The vote marked the first electoral contest for Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, who assumed office in May following his predecessor’s resignation after incidents involving unmanned aircraft incursions originating from Ukraine.
Kulbergs leads the right-wing United List party, which currently holds approximately 20 percent support in polling data. Political analysts anticipate he will maintain his position as prime minister, though the weakening electoral prospects of two current coalition partners are likely to necessitate complex negotiations regarding the composition of the next government. Voting took place between 05:00 and 17:00 GMT, with approximately 1.5 million citizens eligible to participate in the country’s 11th parliamentary election since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Latvia’s political landscape remains notably fragmented, with parties typically securing relatively modest vote shares and coalition governance being standard practice. Fourteen electoral lists competed in the election, though polling suggested only seven would likely exceed the mandatory 5 percent threshold required for parliamentary entry. Campaign discourse centered on economic difficulties including rising living costs, comparatively low wages, healthcare system pressures, and long-term demographic decline.
Most Latvian political parties maintain pro-Ukraine positions. The Sovereign Power party, a populist formation polling above 9 percent and expected to emerge as the second-largest parliamentary bloc, supports Ukrainian victory but contends that resources directed toward Kyiv assistance could be redirected domestically. Latvia First, a populist nationalist party aligned with pro-European positions and polling at approximately 9 percent, could serve as a potential coalition partner for Kulbergs. The Progressives, a pro-European social democratic faction, polled at roughly 6 percent.
Latvia has substantially elevated defense expenditures following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, currently dedicating nearly 5 percent of gross domestic product to defense spending. The country remains the least economically developed of the Baltic states. Ethnic Russians comprise approximately one-quarter of Latvia’s population, and electoral analysis suggests their voting patterns may shift from traditional identity-based alignments toward positions reflecting economic and social concerns.
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