Saeima elections conclude in Latvia, vote counting under way
Latvia's parliamentary elections have concluded and the Central Election Commission has begun counting the ballots, with voter turnout reportedly the lowest since independence was restored.
Latvia's elections for the Saeima, the national parliament, have officially concluded, with eligible citizens choosing the 100 lawmakers who will represent them for the coming term. Following the closing of polling stations, the Central Election Commission (CVK) has begun tallying the votes cast, and initial results are expected in the near future.
Lowest turnout since independence
A notable feature of this election is voter turnout, which has been recorded as the lowest since the restoration of Latvia's independence. This means a smaller share of eligible voters took part compared with every previous Saeima election held since the early 1990s.
What happens next
Once the results are compiled and confirmed, the newly elected 15th Saeima will convene for its first sitting on November 3 of this year. The start of the new parliament's work will formally mark the end of the 14th Saeima's term, which continues to carry out its duties until then.
The counting and official certification of results typically take the Central Election Commission several days, so final, verified figures on how seats will be distributed among parties and alliances will become available somewhat later. In the meantime, the public can follow preliminary interim results as they are released during the count.
The outcome of the vote will determine the balance of political forces in the new parliament and shape the subsequent process of forming a government, though substantive coalition talks can only begin once the final, confirmed election results are known.
