Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs's United List took 41 of 100 Saeima seats, its best result for a Latvian party since independence, on a record-low turnout of 51.8 percent.
Latvia's centrist United List, led by Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, won 41 of 100 seats in Saturday's parliamentary election, according to preliminary results published after counting finished at all polling stations. dpa reported that the electoral commission in Riga recorded the strongest result for any party since Latvia regained independence in 1991.
Turnout was 51.8 percent, the lowest dpa said had been recorded in a Latvian parliamentary election. Latvia First took 17 seats and Sovereign Power 15, with both doing well among Russian-speaking voters. Of Kulbergs's previous coalition partners, National Alliance won 10 seats and Jauna Vienotiba 7. The Progressives also won 10. The Union of Greens and Farmers missed the 5 percent threshold. Six lists entered parliament.
The United List said it would open coalition talks with its existing partners. Those three share support for the EU, NATO and Ukraine and would hold 58 seats together. Kulbergs ruled out cooperation with the two populist parties, dpa reported. He thanked voters in a video on X and said he would treat the mandate seriously.
President Edgars Rinkevics, who issues the mandate to form a government, planned to meet party representatives on Monday.
Coalition arithmetic is not final until those talks conclude. The commission's preliminary seat totals are the basis for the first round of consultations.
People Sentiments Mixed
- Kulbergs thanked voters and said he would carry out the responsibility seriously.
- He ruled out cooperation with the two populist parties, dpa reported.