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' ruling center-left United List party emerged as the clear winner in the country's recent parliamentary elections, according to exit polls. The party secured 35.6% of the vote, marking a significant improvement from the 2022 election. Meanwhile, the populist Latvia First party came in second with 11.3% of the vote, more than doubling its 2022 share.
Kulbergs, who has been in office since May, ruled out forming a coalition with any pro-Russian parties, emphasizing his commitment to NATO and EU membership. The election, which took place amid rising living costs, national security concerns, and the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, saw 14 parties compete for 100 seats in the Saeima, the country's parliament.
Despite leading opinion polls, Kulbergs' coalition is expected to be weakened as populist parties gain support.
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