Stories
Latvia Votes Amid Ukraine War, Drone Incursions, and Security Concerns
- •Latvians voted to elect a new parliament, with security concerns, repeated drone incursions, and the war in Ukraine shaping the election.
- •Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs seeks a full term after taking office in May following the collapse of the previous coalition over its handling of stray military drones.
- •Latvia, a NATO and EU member bordering Russia and Belarus, has strongly backed Ukraine, making security a central campaign issue.
- •Kulbergs campaigned on continued support for Ukraine, stronger anti-drone capabilities, and maintaining defense spending at 5% of GDP.
- •While security is a major concern, cost-of-living pressures, wages, healthcare, and the economy also featured prominently in the campaign.
Key Questions Answered
Latvians voted in a parliamentary election shaped heavily by security concerns, repeated stray drone incursions, and the ongoing war in neighbouring Ukraine. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs sought a full term following the collapse of the previous coalition over its handling of those military drone incidents.
Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs campaigned on maintaining strong support for Ukraine, boosting anti-drone capabilities, and keeping national defence spending at 5% of gross domestic product. Additionally, NATO bolstered Latvian airspace security during the election by deploying four German Eurofighter jets for about a week.
Alongside national security, cost-of-living pressures, wages, healthcare, and the economy have been prominent in the campaign. While opinion polls placed Kulbergs' United List ahead around 14%, opposing parties like Sovereign Power argued against military aid for Ukraine to focus on domestic concerns and peace talks.
