An exit poll after Latvia's Saturday parliamentary election showed Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' United List on 35.6 percent, far ahead of Latvia First, with coalition talks still required.
Latvians voted on Saturday, 3 October 2026, for the 100-seat Saeima. A joint exit poll reported by Reuters, based on Latvian public broadcaster LSM, put Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' centrist United List at 35.6 percent.
Latvia First, described by Reuters as a populist party that courted the ethnic Russian minority, was second on 11.3 percent. The Progressives were also on 11.3 percent in the Reuters account, and Sovereign Power on 10.8 percent. dpa's account of the same poll put Progressives at 11.1 percent.
Kulbergs told reporters at his Riga headquarters that the reading was better than he expected and that he hoped to remain prime minister. He said he would not want to govern with Latvia First. Even at 35.6 percent, United List would need partners for a majority.
dpa reported that two current coalition partners, National Alliance and New Unity, were projected at 8.7 percent and 6.7 percent, enough to enter parliament under the exit poll. Reuters framed the vote against warnings of Russian aggression and drone incidents; Moscow has called such accusations baseless.
The figures are exit polls, not the official count. Coalition bargaining will follow once the election authority confirms the result.
People Sentiments Neutral
- Kulbergs called the exit poll remarkably good and said he had not expected such a result
- He said he hoped to stay prime minister but would not want to govern with Latvia First