Latvian legislators were set to commence talks on Sunday to establish a new government post a parliamentary election where the pro-Ukraine Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs’s four-party coalition secured 35 percent of the vote.
A political crisis in May, triggered by the management of suspected stray drones from Ukraine, led to the collapse of the existing coalition government, which was already strained by various issues. Subsequently, the parliament, known as Saeima, endorsed the coalition led by Kulbergs from the centrist United List party, previously in opposition.
Like Lithuania and Estonia, Latvia staunchly backs Ukraine in its resistance against Moscow’s invasion, given its proximity to both Russia and the Moscow-aligned Belarus.
Saturday’s election transpired amidst mounting apprehensions regarding potential Russian hostilities on NATO’s eastern border. Voter turnout surpassed 51 percent, with over 1.56 million eligible voters out of a population exceeding 1.8 million selecting the 100 members of the single-chamber Saeima for a four-year tenure.
The United List party is projected to secure 42 parliamentary seats, necessitating a multi-party coalition to govern in a fragmented political sphere. Parties are required to garner a minimum of five percent of the vote to clinch parliamentary representation.
