Voting has begun in Latvia for a new 100-seat parliament. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs is seeking a mandate after taking office in May, while support for Ukraine and border security shape the contest. Polls before the vote pointed to a fragmented parliament; the result and the next governing coalition remain undecided.
Latvia began voting on October 3 to elect the 100 members of the Saeima, its national parliament, for four years. Voting takes place throughout the day. The first results are expected after the polls close. The election takes place amid debate over support for Ukraine and security along the country’s borders.[1], [2]
Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs took office in May after the previous government fell over its response to military drones entering Latvian airspace undetected. The aircraft belonged to Ukraine; Latvian officials blamed Russia for diverting them. Kulbergs promises continued assistance to Ukraine, stronger counter-drone capacity and defence spending at 5 percent of gross domestic product.[1]
Reuters put Kulbergs’s centrist United List at about 14 percent in pre-election polling, closely followed by the pro-Russian Sovereign Power party. Those figures are polls rather than election results. Parties must clear 5 percent to enter parliament, making the smaller parties’ performance important to forming a government. Latvia borders Russia and Belarus and has belonged to the European Union and NATO since 2004.[1]
