With most ballots counted, Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' United List won about 35 percent and 42 of 100 Saeima seats, the strongest single-party result since independence, Reuters reported.
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs was on track to stay in office after his centrist United List won the largest parliamentary share since the country regained independence in 1991, Reuters reported from Riga. With 97 percent of ballots counted after Saturday's vote, United List had 35.3 percent, enough for 42 seats in the 100-seat Saeima.
Bloomberg, citing the central election commission with more than 95 percent counted, also put United List at 42 seats and called it a record for a single party. Turnout was 51.8 percent, down from 59.4 percent in 2022, Reuters said.
Latvia First followed on 13.1 percent, the pro-Russian Sovereign Power party on 11.7 percent, and the National Alliance on 8.9 percent. Reuters said pro-Russian parties gained seats but remained isolated from coalition talks.
Kulbergs, 47, a businessman and amateur rally driver, became prime minister in May after the previous coalition collapsed over stray Ukrainian drones that entered Latvian airspace undetected. He has promised more anti-drone capability and defence spending at 5 percent of GDP.
He told reporters the result was remarkably good and better than he expected. Coalition negotiations were still ahead; the figures remain preliminary until the election commission certifies them.
People Sentiments Positive
- Kulbergs said the result was remarkably good and that he had not expected it.