United List wins Latvian parliamentary election

Latvian parliamentary election Andris Kulbergs United List Saeima NATO eastern flank

In Latvia's parliamentary elections, the centrist United List, led by Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, secured a decisive victory. The party obtained approximately 35.4% of the vote and 42 seats in the 100-member Saeima, marking the highest seat count for a single party since the country regained independence in 1991.

The election took place amid significant security concerns regarding Russia and the ongoing war in Ukraine, as well as domestic frustrations over the rising cost of living. While the results suggest Latvia will maintain its pro-European and pro-Ukrainian trajectory, the political landscape remains fragmented. The current governing coalition is expected to undergo significant changes, as partners like the Union of Greens and Farmers failed to meet the 5% electoral threshold.

Populist parties saw notable gains. Latvia First placed second with approximately 13% of the vote, while Sovereign Power and the Young Latvians Alliance also performed strongly, appealing to voters concerned with economic issues and the Russian-speaking minority. Kulbergs has pledged to maintain high defense spending, aiming for 5% of GDP, and to strengthen anti-drone capabilities.

Entities

Andris Kulbergs · Germany · Julia Stepanenko · Latvia · NATO · Russia · Saeima · Sovereign Power · United List

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 23 SOURCES] The centrist United List party leads polls with approximately 14% of the vote. bahamasspectator.com · stvincenttribune.com · trinidadtribune.com · 24-ore.com · es.euronews.com · +6 more
[● 23 SOURCES] Parties must secure at least 5% of the vote to win seats in the Saeima. bahamasspectator.com · stvincenttribune.com · trinidadtribune.com · 24-ore.com · es.euronews.com · +5 more
[● 25 SOURCES] Latvians are voting to elect 100 members of the Saeima for a four-year term. 24-ore.com · bahamasspectator.com · stvincenttribune.com · trinidadtribune.com · es.euronews.com · +7 more
[● 24 SOURCES] Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs is seeking a full term in the upcoming election. 24-ore.com · bahamasspectator.com · stvincenttribune.com · trinidadtribune.com · abcnews.al · +6 more
[● 18 SOURCES] The Latvian State Security Service has not detected significant or systematic efforts by Russia to influence the election. bahamasspectator.com · stvincenttribune.com · trinidadtribune.com · 24-ore.com · abcnews.al · +2 more
[● 22 SOURCES] Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs has promised to maintain defense spending at 5% of gross domestic product. bahamasspectator.com · stvincenttribune.com · trinidadtribune.com · 24-ore.com · abcnews.al · +6 more
[● 5 SOURCES] Sovereign Power party leader Julia Stepanenko advocates for peace talks regarding the war in Ukraine. www.notiziegeopolitiche.net · www.myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com · axadletimes.com
[● 17 SOURCES] Germany deployed four Eurofighter jets to Latvia to reinforce airspace protection during the election period. 24-ore.com · bahamasspectator.com · stvincenttribune.com · trinidadtribune.com · abcnews.al · +1 more
[● 16 SOURCES] The United List party achieved 35.6 percent of the vote according to exit polls. www.diepresse.com · www.eldia.es · www.informacion.es · dziennik-polityczny.com · rtsh.al · +8 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The Latvia First party received 11.3 percent of the vote according to exit polls. rtsh.al · www.sbctv.gr · ordu.az
[DISPUTED] The Union of Greens and Farmers received 3.7 percent of the vote, failing to meet the 5 percent threshold. rtsh.al · www.dimokratia.gr · dete.gr · www.tromaktiko.gr · www.t-online.de
[○ 1 SOURCE] Initial turnout for the election was calculated at 11.20 percent following advance voting. world-today-journal.com