Latvia's parliamentary election sees clash between pro-Western and pro-Russian forces
Latvia held parliamentary elections on October 3, with long-ruling party blocs hovering near the electoral threshold while pro-Russian forces could win over a third of seats, following a highly active early voting period.
Latvia's parliamentary elections took place on October 3, with two long-governing party alliances teetering near the five-percent threshold while supporters of pro-Russian politics could secure more than a third of the seats in the Saeima. Early voting concluded on October 2 and was reported as very active by Estonian broadcaster ERR.
The incumbent prime minister and his party are widely predicted to win, though it remains unclear who he would form a coalition with, since it is not certain which potential partners will even enter parliament. As in previous elections, the vote reflects an ongoing struggle between pro-Western and pro-Eastern political orientations. Two parties that have long held power were hovering near the five-percent threshold ahead of the vote.
A Saeima member said Latvia has parties influenced by the Kremlin that fight aggressively for their place in politics and parliament. The prime minister's party is campaigning on a slogan about having solutions, prompting ironic questions about whether that includes forming a government with a former oligarch. Surprise was expressed over several municipal leaders, including the head of a border-region municipality, running on that politician's list.
A pro-Russian party currently polls in second place and is likely to enter parliament, despite the fact that its leader's father, who lives in Russia, reportedly manufactures equipment for the Russian military. The party's leader stated she supports Ukraine achieving victory through peace negotiations.
A national party, credited with pushing through numerous decisions favorable to Latvia's interests and which recently secured an amendment restricting the use of Russian language on public broadcasting to exceptional cases, intends to continue its parliamentary work. Its representative noted that the current coalition firmly maintains a pro-Western course, while another part of the political spectrum seeks to restore ties with the East. Ahead of the elections, Latvia strengthened its IT systems, and the country's security is being ensured by four German fighter jets.
