Latvia & nearby
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.
Delfi · 4 Oct, 02:22
LPV ready to offer United List cooperation in forming new government
The "Latvia First" party says it is ready to offer the United List cooperation in building the new government, its candidate for prime minister, Ainārs Šlesers, said on Latvian Television.
LSM · 4 Oct, 02:21
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JKP candidate Citskovskis: party's election campaign lacked both money and time
Jaanis Citskovskis, the Estonian Conservative People's Party's candidate for prime minister, has attributed the party's likely setback in the 15th parliamentary elections to insufficient funding and a late campaign start. Note: despite the reference to a Latvian news outlet, the content concerns Estonia, not Latvia.
TVNET · 4 Oct, 02:20
Political parties gather together to await 15th Saeima election results
As polling stations closed and vote counting began in the 15th Saeima elections, competing political parties gathered together in a convivial atmosphere to await the results.
LSM · 4 Oct, 01:25
Parties gather at election-night events to await results
After voting closed in the 15th Saeima elections, political parties gathered at their own venues to follow the results together. Delfi has compiled photos from each party's election-night event.
Delfi · 4 Oct, 01:24
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Šlesers: LPV ready for talks with United List on new government
LPV's candidate for prime minister, Ainārs Šlesers, has announced the party is ready to begin talks with the "United List" on forming a new government.
Apollo.lv · 4 Oct, 01:21
Latvia's election commission clears vote counting to begin after hours of delay
Latvia's Central Election Commission gave the green light just after midnight for polling stations to begin counting votes in the 15th Saeima election, following a multi-hour delay in opening ballot boxes. First results have started appearing in the commission's database.
Jauns.lv · 4 Oct, 01:21
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Siliņa: JV ready for coalition or opposition role, says it's too early to discuss
Saeima MP and former Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (JV) says her party is prepared to work either in the next government coalition or in opposition, but considers it premature to discuss the future cabinet's makeup before official election results are known.
TVNET · 4 Oct, 01:20
CEC head: accuracy matters more than speed in vote counting
Latvia's Central Election Commission chief Māris Zviedris explained why the Saeima election vote count took longer than expected and suggested replacing the deposited-vote verification procedure with advance voting in the future.
LSM (rus) · 4 Oct, 01:20
Kariņš: exit poll shows crushing result for New Unity party
Exit poll data from Latvia's parliamentary election suggest the New Unity party could win just 6.7% of the vote, far below the nearly 19% it received in 2022. Former Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš called the result devastating.
LSM (rus) · 4 Oct, 00:27
University of Latvia professor: This is Kulbergs' "finest hour"
University of Latvia professor Jānis Ikstens says that in the recent elections, Andris Kulbergs of the "Apvienotais saraksts" (United List) party is having his finest hour, as voters have extended him significant credit of trust.
LSM · 4 Oct, 00:27
Exit polls show PM Kulbergs' party leading Latvian election as coalition partner falters
Exit polls from Latvia's parliamentary election put Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' pro-European party in first place, but one of his coalition partners may fall short of entering parliament, forcing new coalition talks. Populist parties also made notable gains amid a campaign focused on Russia and living costs.
France 24 · 4 Oct, 00:24
Exit poll: Apvienotais saraksts takes convincing lead in 15th Saeima election
An exit poll conducted at polling stations shows the Apvienotais saraksts party winning convincingly in Latvia's 15th Saeima election. Experts caution that even a small deviation from the final results could prove decisive for several parties.
Delfi · 4 Oct, 00:21
Political scientist: record-low voter turnout signals crisis in Latvian democracy
Political scientist Ojārs Skudra says voter turnout in the 15th Saeima election was the lowest since the restoration of independence, pointing to a crisis in political democracy. He links the result to both regional disparities and unresolved social problems.
Jauns.lv · 4 Oct, 00:20
Kariņš: 'New Unity' election results are devastating
Former Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš said the preliminary 15th Saeima election results for the 'New Unity' party are devastating, putting it back at its 2018 level. He blamed a lack of leadership and internal disputes.
Latvijas Avīze · 3 Oct, 23:26
Kariņš: 'New Unity' exit poll result is devastating
An exit poll from the 15th Saeima elections projects only 6.7% support for 'New Unity,' a sharp drop from 2022. Former Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš called the result devastating and criticized the party's leadership.
BNN · 3 Oct, 23:25
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Kulbergs: Only parties ready to back major change should join government
Citing exit poll results, Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs says the next government should include only political forces willing to support difficult decisions and spending cuts.
TVNET · 3 Oct, 23:24
Vote counting yet to begin in Riga hours after polls closed
More than two hours after polling stations closed in Riga, vote counting has still not begun because data verification in the Electronic Online Voter Register is ongoing, a member of the Riga election commission told LETA.
LSM · 3 Oct, 23:23
Political scientists: elections mark Kulbergs' finest hour
University of Latvia professor Jānis Ikstens says the recent elections became a standout moment for politician Andris Kulbergs of the "United List" party, as voters gave him a significant advance of trust.
LSM (rus) · 3 Oct, 23:22
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Election commission approves start of counting ballots cast on Saturday
The Central Election Commission held an emergency meeting and decided to allow counting to begin for ballot boxes used on Saturday that contain no registration envelopes from the earlier voting period.
Apollo.lv · 3 Oct, 23:21
Sunday to bring variable cloudiness in Estonia, scattered rain, temperatures up to +16
Estonian forecasters predict changeable cloud cover with isolated rain showers for October 4, with daytime temperatures rising to +14..+16 degrees.
ERR (rus) · 3 Oct, 22:23
Experts: Record-low turnout in Saeima election linked to lack of bold change proposals
Experts on Latvian public broadcaster LTV say the record-low voter turnout in the 15th Saeima election may be explained by the absence of charismatic populist candidates and compelling promises of change.
LSM (rus) · 3 Oct, 22:23
Mieriņa: ZZS's possible failure to enter parliament partly linked to inconsistency on values
14th Saeima Speaker Daiga Mieriņa says that for the first time in over 20 years, polls suggest the Greens and Farmers Union (ZZS) may not enter the next Saeima, partly attributing this to the party's inconsistent stance on values issues.
LSM · 3 Oct, 22:22
Voter turnout in 15th Saeima election lowest since independence was restored
According to data from 995 of 1,059 polling stations, preliminary turnout in the 15th Saeima election stands at 50.81% — the lowest figure since Latvia restored its independence.
Jauns.lv · 3 Oct, 22:22
Exit Poll: United List Decisively Leads 15th Saeima Election
A Saturday exit poll shows the United List with a clear lead in Latvia's 15th Saeima election, with five more parties potentially clearing the 5% threshold. Final results depend on official Central Election Commission data.
BNN · 3 Oct, 21:26
Half of voters had cast ballots by 8 p.m. on election day
In Saturday's 15th Saeima election, more than 780,000 voters had cast ballots by 8 p.m., with turnout reaching roughly 50%, the Central Election Commission reports.
LSM (rus) · 3 Oct, 21:25
Just over half of eligible voters cast ballots in Latvia's 15th Saeima election
According to partial data from Latvia's Central Election Commission, at least 788,000 people, or 50.59% of eligible voters, took part in the 15th Saeima election.
Apollo.lv · 3 Oct, 21:23
Power outage hits one polling station in Daugavpils, votes counted by flashlight
One polling station in Daugavpils lost electricity, forcing staff to count votes using flashlights, a representative of the Central Election Commission told LETA.
TVNET · 3 Oct, 21:23
Poll data suggests 'Apvienotais saraksts' could win over 40 seats in Saeima
As final results of the 15th Saeima elections are awaited, political commentator Jurģis Liepnieks says the 'Apvienotais saraksts' party alliance could achieve a historic seat count in parliament based on current polling data.
Latvijas Avīze · 3 Oct, 21:20
Voter turnout in 15th Saeima election lags behind previous elections
More than 788,000 people had voted in Latvia's 15th Saeima election by Saturday evening, with turnout trailing the 2022 and 2018 results.
Jauns.lv · 3 Oct, 21:20
Voter turnout in 15th Saeima election lowest in parliamentary history
About 790,000 people, or 50.81% of eligible voters, cast ballots in the 15th Saeima election — the lowest turnout ever recorded in parliamentary elections. The figures come from 995 of 1,059 polling stations.
LSM · 3 Oct, 21:19
Exit poll: Six parties could pass 5% threshold for 15th Saeima, "United List" leads
Election day exit poll results indicate that six political parties have cleared the 5% threshold needed to enter Latvia's 15th Saeima, with the "United List" receiving the strongest support.
LSM (rus) · 3 Oct, 20:25
Latvia's 15th Saeima Election Voting Ends, Election Commission Briefs Press
Polling stations across Latvia have closed, ending voting in the 15th Saeima election, and the Central Election Commission held a press conference to inform the public about how election day unfolded.
TVNET · 3 Oct, 20:24
Two candidates share the exact same name in Latvia's parliamentary election
Latvia's 15th Saeima election ballots feature two different people with the identical name Viktors Valainis, causing confusion among voters on social media. The Central Election Commission confirms there is no error on the ballots.
Latvijas Avīze · 3 Oct, 20:23
Providus: Key uncertainty in Saeima election is the fight around the 5% threshold
Think tank Providus has published an analytical report simulating possible outcomes of the 15th Saeima election, concluding that the main uncertainty lies not in who wins but in which parties cross the 5% threshold. This could significantly affect seat distribution and the next government's formation prospects.
LSM · 3 Oct, 20:21
105-year-old Latvian woman in Australia casts her vote in Saeima election
As Latvia's 15th Saeima election drew to a close, a video from Australia showing a 105-year-old woman voting went viral on social media, highlighting that Latvia's diaspora also takes part in parliamentary elections.
Latvijas Avīze · 3 Oct, 19:24