Latvia Holds 15th Saeima Elections on Saturday — Citizens Urged to Vote

On Saturday, October 3, elections for Latvia's 15th Saeima will be held nationwide. Voters must choose among 14 candidate lists, and the distribution of votes will determine which parties shape the country's policy for the next four years.

The author of the opinion piece stresses that voting is a duty for every eligible citizen, rather than staying home and later complaining about the elected government. It is voters themselves who effectively build the next parliament, which will decide on national security, social protection, tax policy, healthcare, education and numerous other matters.

Scrutinizing pre-election promises

The author calls for a critical assessment of where parties stand on security and their attitude toward Russia, as well as how they intend to continue supporting war-torn Ukraine. In her view, elected deputies should respect European values and look beyond the interests of Riga alone.

A voice for the regions

The piece places particular emphasis on regional policy. Living outside major cities herself, the author notes that small municipalities — such as Valka, Zvārtava parish, Gulbene or Beļava parish — often receive insufficient attention from the government. In rural areas, closed post offices, clinics and shops have made daily life harder, and not every community still has a library or a preschool group.

The author expresses hope that newly elected deputies and ministers will, at least once during their four-year term, visit border areas, including Valka — the town where Latvia's territory geographically begins — to see rural life firsthand.

The piece closes with its central message: regardless of political preference, every eligible voter should go to the polling station on Saturday and make a choice.