Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs wins parliamentary elections in Latvia

On October 3, 2026, voters in Latvia participated in parliamentary elections, which resulted in a decisive victory for the pro-Ukrainian, centrist United List party led by 47-year-old Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs. With 86% of the votes counted, Kulbergs' party secured 35.5%, followed by the populist Latvia First party at 13.3%, the pro-Russian Sovereign Power party at 11.6%, and the National Alliance at 9.1%. The Progressives and New Unity parties also surpassed the threshold to enter parliament.

Security concerns dominated the campaign period, fueled by regional anxiety over potential Russian aggression and frequent violations of Latvian airspace. The previous government collapsed in May following public criticism regarding the handling of stray drones entering the country. While officials attributed the drone incidents to Russian interference affecting navigation, Russia has dismissed accusations of planning attacks against NATO as baseless. The election results ensure that Latvia will maintain its current pro-European and pro-Ukrainian foreign policy, despite the complex task of coalition building ahead due to the existing political fragmentation.