Latvia holds general election amid Ukraine war and record-high inflation
Latvia is set to vote on Saturday in a general election that has been overshadowed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and rising energy costs.
Polls indicate that Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš’ New Unity party, which heads the current four-party centre-right minority coalition, is likely to emerge as the top vote-getter.
New Unity is projected to receive between 13% and 20% of the ballots cast by 1.5 million eligible voters.
The election will likely be followed by a lengthy period of negotiation, but analysts say there is a strong chance that Karins — who steered Latvia through the COVID-19 crisis among other things — will still be prime minister at the end of it.
Kariņš, a dual Latvian-US citizen, has told media outlets that it would be easiest to continue with the same coalition combination should New Unity win.
Recent polls put the opposition Greens and Farmers Union in second place with 7.8% support and the centre-right National Alliance — a coalition member — just a fraction further back.
The other current coalition members are the centrist Development/For!, and the Conservatives.
There are a total of 19 parties with over 1,800 candidates running in the election, but only around eight parties are expected to secure a seat in the 100-seat Saeima parliament.
Since the invasion began in February, Latvia, a former Soviet republic, has taken several notable measures.
The EU member state will introduce military conscription next year after a hiatus of over 15 years and has banned Russians from entering the country on tourist visas.
Latvia has also mirrored fellow NATO countries by dismantling a Soviet-era World War II monument in the capital, Riga.
This week the government announced a state of emergency at certain Latvian border
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