Latvia's Kulbergs eyes election win as Russia divides society
- On Saturday, Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs secured the biggest parliamentary election victory since Latvia regained independence in 1991, with his centrist United List winning 35.3% of the vote and 42 seats in the 100-seat parliament.
- A businessman and amateur rally driver, Kulbergs came to power in May after the previous coalition crumbled over its handling of stray Ukrainian military drones flying undetected into Latvia.
- At his party's headquarters on election night, Kulbergs told reporters, "Any economic ties with Russia makes us weak," pledging continuing support to Ukraine and maintaining a hard line towards Moscow.
- Voter turnout declined to 51.8% from 59.4% in 2022, with Latvia First at 13.1% and pro-Russian Sovereign Power at 11.7%; despite gaining representation, pro-Russian parties remained sidelined while United List could form a majority with the National Alliance or Progressives.
- Latvia, with 1.9 million people positioned between Russia and Belarus with NATO and EU allies to the north and south, faces economic challenges that Kulbergs vowed to address through governance reforms, as Latvia's economy has underperformed its Baltic neighbours for over a decade.
195 Articles
195 Articles
Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' centrist party, the United List, won a landslide victory in the Latvian parliamentary election, winning the most seats by the largest margin since 1991. Following the vote, the Prime Minister set the goal of forming a coalition explicitly pro-Ukraine.
Latvian Leader Surges to Big Election Win as Russia Threats Rise
Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs’ party won a record number of seats in Latvia’s parliamentary elections, a result that should help him consolidate power at a time of growing security threats from Russia.
Surprisingly clear is the centre-right alliance at the end: Andris Kulbergs can remain Prime Minister in Latvia. The parliamentary election in Riga was also a vote on the country's Ukraine course.
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Clear confirmation of the pro-EU and pro-Ukraine course of the head of government: in Latvia the party of Prime Minister Kulbergs wins clearly. It should again lead the government.
The pro-Western government in Latvia has won a clear election victory. On the track remains the putin-friendly opposition.
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