Commentator: United List's win owes more to rivals' mistakes than its own merit

A victory not entirely of its own making

In a commentary published by Delfi, political commentator Dainis Lemešonoks examines the United List's decisive election win, noting that current Prime Minister Evika Siliņa has become such a dominant figure within the party that former Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš has nearly faded from view in her shadow. The author wryly suggests that the United List should thank Kariņš for this by sending him a bottle of expensive cognac.

According to Lemešonoks, the party's success stems less from its own strength than from its rivals' mistakes — chiefly the "New Unity" party's blind loyalty and self-destructive conduct, which allowed politician Andris Kulbergs to avoid being pushed to the margins of the opposition.

The commentator recalls warnings previously voiced publicly by former Ventspils mayor Aivars Lembergs, who said complete dominance by a single political force would be dangerous for the country — a scenario Lemešonoks says is now coming true. He warns that any future coalition partner the United List chooses to engage will be entirely dependent on the dominant party's goodwill.

The author voices concern about the country's near-term future, arguing that the United List's success was largely the product of fortunate circumstances and the actions of two former prime ministers rather than a deliberate, earned strategy. He predicts the party's first serious difficulties will emerge during government formation, even before the state budget is adopted.

The commentary also notes that more than half a year remains before the presidential election, during which the situation could still shift — including a growing chance that politician Uldis Pīlēns could see a favorable turn in his own prospects.