Poll: Most Latvian residents worried about immigration before Saeima election

More than three-quarters of Latvia's permanent residents are concerned about immigration, according to a survey conducted by SKDS at the request of Delfi and LSM. The poll took place between July 10 and 15 and involved 1,205 residents aged 18 to 75. Among respondents, 75.3% said they are worried about immigration to Latvia, 20.7% said they are not, and 4% found it difficult to answer. Party preference data were based only on responses from Latvian citizens.

Supporters of the National Alliance show the highest level of concern – 95.6% said immigration worries them, while only 4.5% said it does not. The only exception is found among Progressives party supporters, where 57.7% are not concerned and 38.9% are concerned.

By region, concern is highest in Kurzeme, where 84.2% of residents feel worried and 13.4% do not. In Vidzeme the share is 81.3%, in Latgale 79.2%, in Zemgale 77%, and in Riga 62.9%. Among residents of cities outside Riga, 78.4% are concerned, while in rural areas the figure is 83.5%. Ethnic Latvians are the most worried.

Looking at education, respondents with secondary or vocational secondary education are the most concerned at 82%, followed by those with higher education at 72%, and those with basic education at 57%. In terms of age, concern is highest among people aged 65 to 74 – 85.7% – and among those over 75 – 85.3%. By contrast, 51.3% of respondents aged 18 to 24 said they are not worried.

By employment sector, 79.5% of public-sector workers are concerned, compared with 75.9% of private-sector employees and 73.5% of non-working respondents. Among occupational groups, pensioners show the highest concern at 83.4%, followed by the unemployed at 80.8% and workers at 79.8%. Pupils and students are the least concerned, with 52.5% saying immigration does not bother them.

The 15th Saeima election will take place on Saturday, October 3. Polling stations will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and voters will be able to cast their ballots at any station.