Russian-speaking voters split between "Latvia First" and Julija Stepaņenko's alliance in Saeima election
In the 15th Saeima election, support among Russian-speaking voters shifted away from the "For Stability!" party, which failed to enter parliament, toward two new forces: "Latvia First" and Julija Stepaņenko's "Sovereign Power/Union of New Latvians".
The political preferences of Russian-speaking voters in Latvia shifted noticeably in the 15th Saeima election. The previous parliament's most prominent party representing this electorate, "For Stability!", failed to win seats this time.
Instead, two other political alliances emerged as the main beneficiaries of Russian-speaking voters' support: "Latvia First" (LPV) and the "Sovereign Power/Union of New Latvians" (SV/AJ), led by Julija Stepaņenko.
Different voter segments
Political scientist Jānis Ikstens, analyzing the shift, concluded that the two alliances attracted distinct segments of the electorate. In his assessment, "Latvia First" succeeded in appealing to more moderately inclined Russian-speaking voters, while Stepaņenko's "Sovereign Power/Union of New Latvians" drew support from a more radically minded portion of the electorate.
This development suggests that the Russian-speaking voter community in Latvia is not politically uniform but divides according to the intensity of political conviction, ranging from moderate to more radical positions. The party that had dominated this segment in previous election cycles lost its standing, replaced by new political forces competing for the same electorate but with different messaging and approaches.
The changes in Russian-speaking voters' political choices could influence the future alignment of political forces in the Saeima, particularly on issues related to minority representation and the interests of this electorate.
