Latvia boosts EPP, ECR as results come in from Saturday’s vote

5 months ago 19

The ruling centre-right coalition Jaunā Vienotība (JV/EPP) won Latvia’s elections with 25.7% of the vote, followed by the opposition Nacionālā Apvienība (NA/ECR) with 22.08%, securing two MEP seats each for the EPP and ECR groups in the European Parliament, provisional results of Saturday’s vote that the Central Election Commission announced on Sunday read.

Five parties secured one seat each: Latvijas attīstībai (Renew Europe) with 9.36%, Apvienotais Saraksts (EPP) with 8.18%, Progresīvie (Greens/EFA) with 7.42%, Saskaņa (S&D) with 7.14% and Latvija pirmajā vietā (NI) with 6.16%.

JV leader Edmunds Jurēvics expressed his satisfaction with the result and the “loss of forces unfriendly to Latvia”, referring to the fact that no pro-Russian parties obtained enough votes to secure a seat in the European Parliament.

Tatjana Ždanoka, allegedly a Russian spy, was elected to the Parliament in 2019.

Eying the next commissioner

Before the results were officially announced, the coalition leaders were evasive about who would be nominated for the commissioner post, but the current Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis (JV), who has just secured a seat in the new European Parliament, may have the best chance of being nominated.

Neither confirming nor denying this possibility, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (JV) told the LETA news agency that the candidate should be someone “who is already familiar with the European corridors”, who is respected and known in Europe, and who is professional and influential.

Dombrovskis has already expressed his willingness to continue in the European Commission if such an opportunity arises, LTV reported in August 2023

Turnout not impressive

On Saturday, 33.83%, or 521,325 people eligible to vote, showed up to cast their ballot, according to information published by the CVK – a turnout only slightly higher than in the two previous EU elections, when 33.5% and 30.1% went to the ballot boxes in 2019 and 2014 respectively.

After the final turnout was announced, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs commented: “I would have liked to see higher participation (microscopic increases already exist). I hope this will change in the future, but this is our work together.”

(Liene Lūsīte | Euractiv.com)