Latvia entered its pre-election silence period on Friday ahead of Saturday’s parliamentary vote, with Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs’ centrist United List leading the polls but facing a fragmented political landscape. Fourteen parties are contesting the election, with seven polling at or above the 5% threshold required to enter the 100-seat Saeima. United List had 14.4% support in a September SKDS/LSM poll, followed by Sovereign Power/Alliance of Young Latvians on 9.4% and Latvia First on 9.2%. Coalition negotiations are expected after the vote, as no party is projected to come close to a parliamentary majority. The poll also found that roughly one-third of respondents were undecided or did not plan to vote, leaving the outcome uncertain. Security and relations with Russia have featured prominently in the campaign. Kulbergs has pledged continued support for Ukraine, while the Sovereign Power/Alliance of Young Latvians ticket has opposed further Latvian aid to Kyiv. The election comes amid heightened security concerns across the Baltic region. President Edgars Rinkēvičs has warned of possible Russian cyberattacks, information operations and other disruption surrounding the vote, while saying Latvia sees no evidence that Russia is preparing an imminent conventional attack on the Baltic states or other NATO countries.
