Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs wins election held under shadow of Ukraine war

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs reacts as he waits for the first exit poll results of the general election during his United List Party's election night gathering in Riga on Saturday. | AFP-JIJI

REUTERS

Oct 4, 2026

Riga – Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs’ centrist, pro-Ukraine United List party won Saturday’s parliamentary election by an unexpectedly wide margin, partial results showed, with many voters on edge amid warnings of potential Russian aggression.

With 88% of ballots counted, United List was on 36.6%, followed by the populist, MAGA-style ​Latvia First on 13.4%. Latvia ‌First had courted the country’s substantial ethnic Russian minority in the run-up to ​the vote.

Baltic countries have warned for months that Russia is mounting sabotage, cyber and other hybrid attacks across Europe to erode support for Ukraine and sow fear, although Western officials dismiss concerns that Moscow is ⁠capable of launching a direct assault on NATO, of which Latvia is a member.

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