An exit poll by Latvian public broadcaster LSM put Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' United List on 35.6 percent in Saturday's Saeima election, well ahead of Latvia First, with official results still to confirm the reading.
Latvian voters cast ballots on Saturday for 100 seats in the Saeima, and an exit poll by public broadcaster LSM put Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' centrist United List well in front. Reuters reported the survey at 35.6 percent for United List and 11.3 percent for the populist Latvia First party.
The same LSM reading, also carried by LETA, placed the Progressives at about 11 percent and the pro-Russian Sovereign Power near 10.8 percent. Kulbergs told Reuters the result was better than he expected and that he hoped to remain prime minister, while saying he would not want to govern with Latvia First.
Kulbergs, 47, took office in May after the previous coalition collapsed over the handling of stray military drones that entered Latvian airspace. His campaign promised more anti-drone capacity and defence spending at 5 percent of GDP. Latvia First and Sovereign Power campaigned on cost of living and on ending support for Ukraine, Reuters reported.
Russia has rejected Baltic accusations of hybrid attacks as baseless. Western officials cited by Reuters have dismissed the idea that Moscow is ready for a direct assault on NATO, of which Latvia is a member.
Exit polls are not the official count. The Central Election Commission still has to publish certified results, and United List would need coalition partners for a majority even if the poll holds.
People Sentiments Mixed
- Kulbergs called the exit-poll reading remarkably good and said he had not expected it.
- He said he would not want to govern with Latvia First.
- Sovereign Power leader Julia Stepanenko told Reuters her voters want peace and an end to financing the war.