Latvia parliamentary elections: Apvienotais Saraksts wins most seats

Latvia’s 15th Saeima parliamentary elections concluded with a 51.79% voter turnout. The Apvienotais Saraksts alliance secured the largest share of the vote, winning 41 seats in parliament. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, who led the alliance, saw a significant rise in popularity attributed to his use of social media and vlogs, though fact-checkers noted his rhetoric often contained misleading or false claims.

Other parties to enter the legislature include Latvija pirmajā vietā with 17 seats, Suverēnā vara/Apvienība jaunlatvieši with 15 seats, Nacionālā apvienība with 10 seats, Progresīvie with nine seats, and Jaunā vienotība with seven seats. The Zaļo un zemnieku savienība narrowly missed the threshold, receiving 4.4% of the vote.

While the election results maintain Latvia’s pro-European foreign policy and support for Ukraine, analysts suggest domestic shifts may occur. There are concerns regarding an increase in populist rhetoric, the influence of social media politics, and potential impacts on media freedom and the NGO sector.