Latvians head to polls to elect new lawmakers

By Saadet Firdevs Apari

HELSINKI (AA) - Latvians cast their votes on Saturday to elect 100 deputies to the Saeima, the Baltic nation's parliament, from among 1,829 candidates.

While a total of 19 parties are running in the elections, parties must surpass a 5% electoral threshold to be represented in parliament.

The country's incumbent coalition government, formed by the New Unity, the National Alliance, Development/For!, and Conservatives, is currently headed by Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins, a dual Latvian-US national, who took over the role in 2019.

Some 949 polling stations are open for voters, along with 81 more abroad, according to local media.

The parliamentary elections in the country are being held amid the Russia-Ukraine war, with about 40% of Latvia's 1.9 million population Russian-speaking.

Latvia is a member of both the EU and NATO, and has condemned Russia's war on Ukraine, which began in February.