How "Stability!" won over voters in Latgale in 2022
In the 2022 Saeima election, the party "Stability!" drew far stronger support in Latgale than nationwide, helped by aggressive social media campaigning and promises tailored to the region.
Voting patterns in Latvia's Latgale region during the 2022 Saeima election diverged sharply from the national picture. While the party "Stability!" received a relatively modest 6.8% of the national vote, in Latgale it became the clear favorite, winning 18% of ballots cast there — making it the most popular party in the region by a wide margin over its nationwide result.
Social media as a campaign tool
One factor behind the party's regional success was its aggressive use of social media. "Stability!" representatives were among the first Latvian political figures to make heavy use of TikTok, a platform still relatively new to politicians at the time. The campaign leaned on a deliberately blunt and confrontational communication style, operating on the principle that the harsher the message, the more attention it drew.
Promises aimed at the region
The party's pre-election platform included several points designed to resonate specifically with Latgale voters. It promised opportunities for education in one's native language and closer economic ties with neighboring countries. At the same time, the party did not rule out the possibility of Latvia leaving the European Union, describing the bloc in its rhetoric as a restrictive, "suffocating" structure.
Taken together — an intense social media push, a sharp-edged communication style, and region-specific promises — these factors help explain why Latgale's political choices in 2022 differed so markedly from broader trends across Latvia.
