Kulbergs’ United List Wins Biggest Latvian Election Victory Since 1991 Independence
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs is set to form a pro-Ukrainian coalition government after his centrist United List won the biggest parliamentary election victory since Latvia regained independence in 1991. The Latvia election 2026 result gives United List 42 seats in the 100-member Saeima, nine short of a majority, after the party secured 35.3 per cent of the vote in Saturday’s ballot.
No party has ever scored higher since independence, and President Edgars Rinkevics is expected to ask Kulbergs to form the next government.
How the Latvia election 2026 results broke down
United List finished far ahead of the field. The populist Latvia First came second with about 13.1 per cent after courting the country’s substantial ethnic Russian minority. The pro-Russian Sovereign Power–New Latvians took third with roughly 11.6 per cent, and the nationalist National Alliance scored around 9 per cent.
During the campaign Kulbergs categorically ruled out any alliance with Sovereign Power–New Latvians, whom he accused of posing “a threat to the security of our state and to democracy”. On Latvia First, led by oligarch Ainars Slesers, he called a partnership “impossible at present” but cited concerns about some of its candidates, leaving Slesers room to move closer to the government.
Voter turnout stood at 51.8 per cent, down from 59.4 per cent in 2022. Analysts expect Kulbergs to secure a working majority with either the nationalist National Alliance or the liberal Progressives as partners.
Who is Andris Kulbergs
Kulbergs, 47, is a businessman and amateur rally driver. He took office only in May 2026, after the previous coalition collapsed over its handling of incidents in which stray Ukrainian military drones flew undetected into Latvian airspace.
He has sold himself to voters as a practical fixer. Latvia’s economy has underperformed its Baltic neighbours for more than a decade, and Kulbergs has vowed to improve governance, cut red tape and reduce public spending. Political scientist Roberts Kits said Kulbergs “played on being a get-things-done type of guy and has persuaded the voters that he can do things differently, bring some fresh energy”.
“The responsibility is huge,” Kits said. “People expect him to deliver, but the question remains whether he has the team to do it.”
A hard line on Russia
The campaign played out against fears of Russian hybrid attacks and the war in Ukraine. Latvia, a NATO and European Union member bordering Russia, has raised defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP. Four German Eurofighter jets were deployed to guard Latvian airspace during the vote, and the State Security Service reported no systematic Russian interference.
Kulbergs pledged continued support for Ukraine and a hard line toward Moscow. “Any economic ties with Russia makes us weak,” he told reporters. “Yes, it can bring some extra money, but it’s a weakness Russia might exploit.”
“It’s remarkably good. I was not expecting such a result,” Kulbergs said, adding that voters wanted economic growth and “a future for Latvia’s children”.
The result locks in Latvia’s pro-European and pro-Ukrainian course and keeps one of Kyiv’s most outspoken regional backers in place. What happens next is weeks of coalition arithmetic, and the first real test will be whether Kulbergs can turn a record result into the stable government that has eluded Latvia for years.
Frequently asked questions
What were the Latvia election 2026 results?
Andris Kulbergs’ centrist United List won 35.3 per cent of the vote and 42 of 100 seats in the Oct 3 parliamentary election, the biggest victory for any party since Latvia regained independence in 1991. Latvia First finished second with about 13.1 per cent.
Does Kulbergs have an outright majority?
No. United List is nine seats short of the 51 needed for a majority in the Saeima. Kulbergs will need coalition partners, most likely the nationalist National Alliance or the liberal Progressives.
Why is this election important for Ukraine?
Latvia is one of Kyiv’s staunchest backers in Europe, with defence spending at 5 per cent of GDP. Kulbergs has pledged continued military support for Ukraine and a hard line on Moscow, so the result guarantees policy continuity on the eastern flank.
