Carnikava voters weigh leaders over repeated campaign promises

Carnikava residents say they will base their choices in the October 3 parliamentary election on political leaders and their track records, rather than general campaign promises, LSM reported in a piece by Latvian Radio journalist Daina Zalamane.

Pre-election programmes are rosy and attractive but remain vague, residents told the Latvian Radio programme “Regions at the Crossroads”. They said promises are often repeated even though politicians have already had opportunities to fulfil them. Some voters consider political advertising, while others assess what parties and candidates have actually accomplished.

The Riga region has been Latvia’s most economically active and most populous region for many years. According to the Central Statistical Bureau, it generated 65.8% of Latvia’s gross domestic product in 2023. Kurzeme, the second-largest contributor, accounted for 10.2%.

Gross domestic product per person also differs significantly. It reached 30,440 euros in the Riga region, compared with 11,536 euros in Latgale.

A similar trend can be seen demographically. Almost 46% of Latvia’s population lived in the Riga region at the beginning of 2025. At the same time, the population of Riga itself is declining, while several municipalities around the capital, including Mārupe, Ādaži, Ropaži and Salaspils, are gaining residents.

Carnikava, which received city status in August, currently has about 5,800 residents. More than 11,000 people live in Carnikava Parish overall. Following the latest administrative reform, the parish was incorporated into Ādaži Municipality, which has more than 25,000 residents.

Ervīns Lukstiņš is one of 12 members of the Carnikava Parish Residents’ Council, which includes representatives from Carnikava and the coastal villages of Kalngale, Garupe, Garciems, Lilaste and Gauja. Like many residents of the area around Riga, Lukstiņš previously worked in the capital. He is now retired and involved in local affairs.