Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Krisjanis Karins on October 1 in Riga. GINTS IVUSKANS / AFP
The centrist party of outgoing Prime Minister Arturs Krisjanis Karins has won the parliamentary elections in Latvia, according to partial results from 96% of polling stations released on Sunday October 2nd. In the new parliament, the centrist Neue Unity party won 18.94% of the vote and likely renewed Mr Karins as head of government. Only one party supported by the Russian-speaking minority, Stabilité!, surpassed the 5% (6.75%) admission threshold, and the historic Russian-speaking Harmonie formation will not be represented, as will the Russian Union of Latvia, near the Kremlin.
In second place is the Union of Greens and Farmers (Center and Social Democrats) with 12.66%, followed by the United List (Greens and state parties, Center, 10.98%), the National Alliance (Center Right, 9.31% ). Another populist party, Latvia first, the Progressives (Social Democratic Left) and Development/For! should also provide some deputies.
Two days before the election, President Egils Levits had called on the citizens of the Baltic country, which is a member of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, to vote while warning against pro-Kremlin parties close to the large Russian-speaking minority who “too beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine have hesitated to say clearly who is the aggressor and who is the victim”.
Also read: Article reserved for our subscribers In Latvia, the conflict in Ukraine revives the war of memories between Russian speakers and Latvians A polling station in Sigulda on October 1st. GINTS IVUSKANS / AFP
The war in Ukraine, the quest for energy independence from Russia, and inflation have prompted this country of 1.8 million to rely on proven leaders.
Concerned about Russian aggressiveness, like the Poles and their Baltic neighbors, Lithuanians and Estonians, the majority of Latvians endorse the priorities announced by the outgoing government: increasing the defense budget, showing solidarity with Ukraine and improving energy security.
Backed by Russian speakers – about 30% of the population – the Harmony Party, which has consistently won parliamentary elections for a decade without ever finding an ally for the government and which garnered nearly 20% of the vote in 2018, has done so has since experienced a gradual decline, accentuated by cases of corruption, resulting in the loss of Riga City Hall.
A polling station in Riga on October 1st. GINTS IVUSKANS / AFP