Latvia's Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs has secured a significant victory in the country's parliamentary election.
What happened
According to partial results, Kulbergs' centrist United List party won by a wide margin, with 36.6 percent of the vote. The populist Latvia First party came in second with 13.4 percent, followed by the pro-Russian Sovereign Power party with 11.6 percent. The election was held under the shadow of the ongoing Ukraine war, with many voters concerned about potential Russian aggression.
The United List party's victory was seen as a surprise, with many expecting a closer result. Kulbergs has promised to maintain defense spending at 5 percent of gross domestic product and to increase anti-drone capabilities for Latvia. His pro-Kremlin rivals had campaigned on a platform of stopping aid to Ukraine and focusing on cost-of-living issues.
The election result will likely lead to coalition talks, as Kulbergs' party will need to form alliances to govern. The prime minister has stated that he hopes to remain in his position but will not want to govern with Latvia First.
