Latvians are voting in a parliamentary election on Saturday that is likely to keep power in the hands of pro-Ukrainian prime minister Andris Kulbergs, although deep political fragmentation may complicate the formation of a government.
Across the Baltics, including in Nato and European Union member Latvia, many voters are on edge after official warnings of potential Russian aggression and a growing number of airspace incursions related to Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Russia says accusations that it is planning to attack Nato are baseless and Western officials say it is not capable of launching a direct assault, but security concerns have weighed heavily in the election campaign.
“The priority in my view is, of course, security – security in Latvia. And then… as a student, I’d say support for students, the economy, and also support for pensioners,” said Megija Nordena (21) from Riga.
Opinion polls put Kulbergs’ centrist United List ahead, with about 14 per cent of votes, but followed closely by the overtly pro-Russian Sovereign Power.
A businessman and amateur rally driver, Kulbergs (47) came to power in May after the previous coalition crumbled over its handling of incidents in which stray military drones flew undetected into Latvia. Though the drones were Ukrainian, officials have blamed Russia for causing them to divert from their flight paths.
“We have to give Ukraine everything necessary right now (so) that they can have the upper hand and win”, Kulbergs told Reuters in an interview.
Throughout his campaign, he has also promised more anti-drone capabilities for Latvia and to maintain defence spending at 5 per cent of gross domestic product, one of the highest levels in Nato.
But his pro-Kremlin rivals say Latvia should stop any aid to Ukraine and should instead focus more on cost-of-living issues, particularly among the country’s Russian-speaking minority.
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“Our voters want peace, to stop looking for shelters, to no longer experience the air alerts”, party leader Julia Stepanenko told Reuters. “The war must not be encouraged in any way, including by financing it… Ukraine must win, but through peace talks.”
Polls opened at 8am with the first results expected within hours and the final result likely to be clear after midnight. The 100 members of the Saeima, or parliament, are being elected for a four-year term.
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