Exit Polls Predict Landslide Victory for Ruling Party in Latvia Election... "No Cooperation with Pro-Russian Parties"

Exit polls indicate that the anti-Russian ruling United List (AS) party is poised for a landslide victory in the general election in Latvia, one of the Baltic states in Europe bordering Russia.

Latvian public broadcaster LSM and the LETA news agency reported on the 3rd local time that the center-right United List is projected to take first place with 35.6 percent of the vote, outpacing the right-wing populist Latvia First party (11.3 percent) and the Progressives (11.1 percent).

If the United List becomes the leading party, it is expected to re-form a center-right coalition government centered around its current coalition partners, such as the National Alliance (8.7 percent) and New Unity (6.7 percent).

The Power for Sovereignty and Latvia First alliance, which has been critical of support for Ukraine and increases in defense spending, is projected to rank fourth with 10.8 percent of the vote.

Power for Sovereignty is classified as a pro-Russian populist party that champions the rights of the ethnic Russian minority.

Immediately after the exit poll results were announced, Prime Minister Kulbergs declared virtual victory, stating that he would maintain his position as prime minister.

He stated, "We will not cooperate with pro-Russian parties," adding, "Our firm stance is that any economic relations with Russia will make us weak and Russia will exploit that."

In Latvia, the coalition government led by Prime Minister Evika Siliņa collapsed following political disputes over the response to a Ukrainian drone that violated Latvian airspace last May, leading to the formation of a new center-right cabinet.

Russia has been escalating its threats this year, claiming that the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia are intentionally opening their airspace to Ukrainian drones targeting its western oil export facilities, and warning that it will exercise its right to self-defense.

During this general election period, Latvia received support from Germany in the form of four Eurofighter jets to defend its airspace.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.