Latvia's new parliament to see about two-thirds turnover, with over 60 newcomer MPs

Preliminary results from Latvia's 15th Saeima elections indicate that more than 60 newly elected members will join parliament, meaning approximately two-thirds of its composition will turn over. A similar pattern was seen following the previous, 14th Saeima elections.

The largest number of newcomers is expected from the Union List (Apvienotais saraksts), which will bring in 28 new MPs. It is followed by the previously unrepresented alliance Sovereign Power/Union of Latvians, all 15 of whose elected members will be newcomers, as well as Latvia First with 12 new deputies.

Notable individual cases

One Latvia First member, Ainārs Šlesers, is not technically a complete newcomer, since he served in the 14th Saeima until last summer, when he was elected to Riga City Council and gave up his parliamentary seat. He will now return to parliament from the city council.

The Progressives may add three new members to the next Saeima, including Agnese Lāce, who had not previously run for parliament but served as culture minister during this term. Another Progressives MP, Selma Teodora Levrence, had already briefly served in the 14th Saeima under a so-called "soft" mandate.

The National Alliance is preliminarily set to gain two newcomers, while New Unity will gain one — possibly current Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, who did not run in the 2022 election. New Unity will lose the most seats overall, having won 26 mandates in 2022.

Overall election results

With nearly all votes counted, the Union List won decisively with 42 seats. Six parties will enter the new Saeima: besides the winner, these are Latvia First (17 seats), Sovereign Power/Union of Latvians (15), the National Alliance (10), the Progressives (nine) and New Unity (seven seats).

The closest party to fail the 5% threshold was the Greens and Farmers Union, with 4.4% of the vote. The results remain preliminary and could still change.