Preliminary results show landslide win for United List in Latvia's 15th Saeima election
With counting nearly complete in Latvia's parliamentary election, the United List has secured a dominant lead while the Greens and Farmers Union failed to clear the 5% threshold. Voter turnout was the lowest since independence was restored.
Vote counting has finished at all polling stations across Latvia for the 15th Saeima election, though some postal ballots and final plus/minus preference tallies for individual candidates are still being processed in a number of precincts, meaning the final list of elected deputies could still shift slightly.
A record result for United List
Based on current figures, the United List (AS) has won 35.3% of the vote, translating into roughly 41 seats — which would make it the strongest result achieved by any party in a Saeima election since Latvia restored its independence, surpassing Latvia's Way in 1993, Unity in 2010, and Harmony's 2011 snap-election result.
How other parties fared
Second place went to Latvia First with 13.1%, followed by Sovereign Power/Latvian Union of Regions with 11.71%. The National Alliance received 8.9%, the Progressives 7.88%, and New Unity 6.36%. The Greens and Farmers Union, with 4.4%, fell short of the 5% threshold needed to enter parliament.
Regional seat distribution
The largest share of seats — 38 — is allocated in the Riga constituency, which also includes postal votes cast abroad; there, United List takes 13 seats, Sovereign Power/Latvian Union of Regions seven, Latvia First and the Progressives six each, and New Unity and the National Alliance three each. In Vidzeme, United List wins 13 of 26 seats; in Zemgale, six of 13; in Kurzeme, six of 11; while in Latgale, where Latvia First leads with five of 12 seats, United List and Sovereign Power/Latvian Union of Regions each take three.
Lowest turnout since independence
Overall turnout was 51.8%, the lowest since Latvia regained independence. The Central Election Commission notes that figures for some precincts may still be adjusted.
