Prime Minister Heads for Election Victory in Latvia

 

TT

 

Published October 3, 2026, 22:26

 

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs. File photo from mid-September. Photo: Jouni Porsanger/AP/TT

Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs and his United List appear set to be the big winners in Latvia’s parliamentary election, securing over 35 percent of the vote.

The results, which are not yet final, point to a continuation of policies favorable to the EU and Ukraine. At the same time, one of the United List's coalition partners appears likely to fall short of the electoral threshold.

"Nothing is certain yet, but this result is higher than we expected," Kulbergs said, according to AFP.

Public broadcaster LSM reports that six parties appear to have cleared the threshold as of Saturday evening; among them are the right-wing populist "Latvia First" and a pro-Russian party—both of which, according to an exit poll, could garner more than 10 percent of the vote.

The 47-year-old Kulbergs, who became Prime Minister as recently as May of this year, may face lengthy coalition negotiations, as he ruled out cooperating with those parties on election night.

According to LSM, only 51 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots.