United List wins Latvia’s election as coalition talks begin

Latvia’s United List alliance won the 15th Saeima election with a record 41 seats, while turnout fell to 51.81%, LSM reported. The winners have a month to decide on coalition partners, but talks have yet to move quickly.

Election results

United List received 35.3% of the vote, the largest number of seats won by a single party or alliance since Latvia restored independence. Latvia First came second with 13.1% and 17 seats, followed by Sovereign Power/Young Latvians Alliance with 11.8% and 15 seats.

The National Alliance and the Progressives each won 10 seats, while New Unity secured seven. The Union of Greens and Farmers failed to enter parliament for the first time, receiving 4.41% of the vote. The new Saeima is due to begin work on November 3.

Government formation

President Edgars Rinkēvičs will ask current Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs of United List to form the next government. Kulbergs says he wants to form it as soon as possible, while prioritising quality over speed and hoping to avoid major disputes and compromises. Rinkēvičs hopes the new government will be ready by the November national holiday.

United List is also expected to nominate Edvards Smiltēns for speaker of the 15th Saeima. Ināra Mūrniece and Inese Lībiņa-Egnere could be nominated as deputy speakers.

Party leaders face scrutiny

Director Alvis Hermanis has stepped down as leader of the party We Are Changing the Rules, saying he failed to persuade the public of his plans to change the political system. The party received 3.4% of the vote, too little to enter parliament but enough to qualify for state funding. Hermanis will remain an ordinary party member.

New Unity is also dissatisfied with its result and plans to review it at an extraordinary congress, including a re-election of the Unity board.

Debate over school curriculum

The government plans to develop new school content on family values and health literacy by April 2027. Updated curricula for history, social studies and music are also planned for September.

The government says the content should provide children with scientifically grounded knowledge and strengthen the role of the family. However, the teachers’ union and experts fear political or ideological elements could be introduced. Critics say specialists should be consulted first and that authorities should establish what knowledge children actually lack.

AirBaltic considers job cuts

AirBaltic’s new business plan would reduce its fleet from 54 aircraft to about 36, potentially leading to 500 to 700 job cuts in Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn. The exact number has not been determined, and the airline is discussing alternatives with unions. It has informed the State Employment Agency that it is preparing for collective redundancies.