In line with latest opinion polls, round a 3rd of respondents in Latvia expressed no real interest in the EU elections. Regardless of this lack of curiosity, the ultimate voter turnout for the EU elections was steady at 33.7%, barely increased than in earlier years. Nevertheless, this turnout continues to be considerably decrease than in 2009 when over half of eligible voters participated. Respondents aged 18-29 have been the least prone to categorical curiosity within the elections, whereas older respondents aged 60-74 confirmed extra engagement. Candidates from 16 events are competing for Latvia’s 9 parliamentary seats, with the Nationwide Alliance, Progressives, and New Unity social gathering main the polls.
The Nationwide Alliance social gathering, with lead candidate Roberts Zīle, is concentrated on defending Latvia’s pursuits within the EU, notably in areas of protection and border safety. The Progressives social gathering, led by former presidential contender Elīna Pinto, advocates for assist for Ukraine and stricter environmental controls. The New Unity social gathering, led by EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, takes a robust stance towards Russia and helps EU enlargement. Safety is a key situation in Latvia, particularly following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the federal government has reintroduced conscription to bolster protection efforts.
Final month, protests broke out in Latvia over the nationwide broadcaster’s choice to carry pre-election debates in Russian. Latvia, positioned on the jap fringes of the EU and sharing a border with Russia, has a major Russian-speaking minority. Whereas greater than 60% of Latvians communicate Latvian, round a 3rd communicate Russian. The Public Digital Mass Media Council declined to dam the Russian-language debates, citing interference in broadcasting choices. Safety considerations loom giant in Latvia, given the nation’s historical past with Russia and fears of revisionist intentions.
Regardless of low voter curiosity within the EU elections, the ultimate turnout in Latvia remained steady. The Nationwide Alliance, Progressives, and New Unity events are main the polls, with every social gathering specializing in completely different coverage priorities. Safety is a major concern for a lot of Latvians, notably within the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The federal government’s choice to reintroduce conscription has discovered assist among the many public, with many viewing it as essential for Latvia’s protection. The controversies across the language of the pre-election debates spotlight the complicated linguistic and political panorama in Latvia, the place problems with identification, safety, and EU relations are intertwined.