Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' party leads Latvia's election, amid fears of possible Russian aggression

The centrist United List, led by Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, is the frontrunner in Saturday’s legislative election in Latvia, according to exit polls. The party reportedly won 35.6% of the vote, according to a poll conducted by Latvia’s public broadcaster LSM.

In second place is the populist party Latvia First, with 11.3% of the vote. In the run-up to the election, the party sought to attract support from Latvia’s ethnic Russian minority.

The election took place amid concerns over warnings of possible Russian aggression. The Baltic states say Moscow is carrying out acts of sabotage, cyberattacks and other hybrid acts of aggression in Europe to weaken support for Ukraine and heighten public fears.

Western officials reject, however, the idea that Russia has the capacity to directly attack NATO, an alliance of which Latvia is also a member. Moscow considers the accusations unfounded and attributes them to “anti-Russian hysteria.” During the vote, Kulbergs said that Latvia and Europe’s entire eastern flank must remain united and strong.