Latvia: Ruling party leads in exit polls amid populist gains
According to an exit poll by public broadcaster LSM, Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' centerist party, United List, was projected to win 35.6% of the vote.
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' party is projected to win the parliamentary elections on Saturday, according to exit polls. The United List, a center-left pro-Ukraine party, is expected to secure 35.6% of the vote, a significant improvement from the last election in 2022. The populist Latvia First party is in second place with 11.3% of the vote, nearly double its previous share.
Kulbergs, who only assumed office in May, has ruled out forming a coalition with the populist party. The election, held amid rising living costs and national security concerns, saw 100 seats contested by 14 parties using a proportional system. The small Baltic country, which borders Russia and Belarus, is a member of both the EU and NATO.
Despite his party leading opinion polls, Kulbergs' coalition is expected to be weakened as populist parties gain ground.
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