San Francisco Frontiers - Pro-Europe Latvian PM wins poll dominated by Russia, social worries

Populist parties, boosted by support from Latvia's Russian-speaking minority, also had a good night after an election campaign dominated by fears over neighbouring Russia, the cost of living and other social issues.

Kulbergs' United List party won 42 seats in the 100-seat parliament -- an unprecedented result in the former Soviet republic's post-independence history.

After exit polls hinted at the magnitude of his party's victory, Kulbergs said it was a wider margin than he had expected.

"That means people truly want change," he said, which he said meant "economic growth" and a future for the country's children.

Kulbergs, a former manager in the telecoms and automotive sectors, took over as prime minister in May at the head of a centre-right coalition.

He will be forced to change partners after the election, as one of his members failed to clear the five-percent hurdle to get into parliament.

- 'Strong border' -

Security remains central to political debate in Latvia, more than four years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Latvia, a member of NATO and the European Union since 2004, views Russia as its principal security threat and has significantly increased defence spending in response.

"Because we are the external border of Europe, we must have a strong economy... a strong border region," Kulbergs said.

"That is the main task."

But rising living costs, low wages, strains on the healthcare system and long-term population decline all featured prominently in campaign debates.

While most parties expected to enter parliament back both high military spending and maintaining aid to Kyiv, the right-wing Sovereign Power party has broken ranks.

It has opposed military aid to Ukraine and further increases to defence spending. It looked set for a third-place finish, with 15 MPs, after focusing on cost of living issues.

- Right-wing populist parties -

Soverign Power has been tarred pro-Russian by its detractors and most major parties have ruled out working with it.

Latvia First, a conservative party run by a property magnate often compared toh US President Donald Trump, came second in the poll and took 17 seats.

Both populist parties benefitted from changes in voting patterns among the Russian-speaking minority, who make up a third of the population.

But Harmony was broadly seen as pro-Kremlin and its support collapsed dramatically in the last election, held shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

W.Thompson--SFF