OMM Redaksiyası
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs’ centrist, pro-Ukraine United List party took a commanding lead in Saturday’s parliamentary election. Preliminary results showed security concerns related to Russia’s war against Ukraine were central to the campaign.
With 88% of ballots counted, the United List had secured 36.6% of the vote. The populist Latvia First party came second with 13.4%, followed by the pro-Russian Sovereign Power party with 11.6%. The nationalist National Alliance received 9.1%.
Despite the result, Kulbergs will need coalition partners to form a government. He said he hoped to remain prime minister but did not want to form a government with Latvia First.
Security at the forefront of election campaign
Security was a key concern for voters in Latvia, which borders Russia and Belarus and is a member of NATO and the European Union.
Kulbergs, a 47-year-old businessman and amateur rally driver, became prime minister in May. The previous coalition collapsed after facing criticism over its handling of incidents involving military drones that entered Latvian airspace undetected. Latvian officials said Russia was responsible for Ukrainian drones straying from their intended routes.
During the campaign, Kulbergs pledged to strengthen the country’s defences against drones and maintain defence spending at 5% of gross domestic product, among the highest levels in NATO.
Many voters also identified security as a priority. Megija Norden, a 21-year-old student from Riga, said security came first, while student support, the economy and pensioners were also important issues.
Support for Ukraine deepens political divisions
The United List advocated continuing support for Ukraine. Kulbergs’ Kremlin-friendly rivals called for Latvia to stop its aid and focus more on domestic issues, including the cost of living.
Sovereign Power leader Yuliya Stepanenko said her supporters wanted the war to end and opposed funding Ukraine’s military efforts. She also said Ukraine should achieve victory through peace negotiations.
Latvia’s sizeable Russian-speaking minority holds differing views on the war and domestic policies affecting Russian speakers. Some oppose Moscow’s invasion, while others say Latvia discriminates against the Russian-speaking community.
The election took place as the Baltic states continued to warn of what they describe as Russian sabotage, cyberattacks and other hybrid activities in Europe. Western officials have dismissed concerns that Russia is preparing a direct attack on NATO, while Moscow has called such warnings Russophobic hysteria.
Latvia, with a population of about 1.9 million, lies between the Baltic Sea and Russia and Belarus. It borders Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south; both are NATO and European Union members.
