Latvia

Kulbergs' United List Wins Latvian Election

Did Latvia's vote prove pro-Ukraine politics still wins big or does Riga's quiet tolerance of Kremlin-linked money tell the real story?

Published 6 days ago

Kulbergs' United List Wins Latvian Election

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Above: Andris Kulbergs in Riga on Oct. 3. Image credit: Wojtek Radwanski/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-government narrative

Latvia's vote proves pro-Ukraine, pro-Europe politics still wins big, even when security costs real money for households. The convenient excuse that backing Kyiv is automatic election poison just collapsed in a country sitting right on Russia's doorstep. Flooding Telegram with fake "angry Latvian" accounts and talk of persecution didn't move the needle one bit.

Regina Laska on X

Elisa Mosini on X

Government-critical narrative

Loud pro-Ukraine speeches mean nothing when the same establishment quietly lets Kremlin-linked oligarchs park their money and property in Riga years after the invasion. Teaming up with Kremlin-friendly parties on votes about the information space, then dragging out entry bans on Putin-boosting figures flagged by allies, tells the real story. Actions, not rhetoric, show whose interests get served.

Otto Ozols on X

Pro-Russia narrative

For Latvia's Russian-speaking residents, the election result will not bring a fundamental change. Regardless of how seats are distributed in the new Saeima or which parties ultimately form the governing coalition, policies aimed at reducing the role and presence of the Russian language and culture are likely to continue.