Election in Latvia overshadowed by ethnic divides

There were no radical changes in the makeup of Latvia’s Saeima following the parliamentary election on 4 October 2014. The opposition left-wing pro-Russian party Harmony were the most popular grouping. They have entered parliament with no major changes in the number of seats they previously had, as did the centre-right coalition which governed the country before the election. The centre-right coalition stands the greatest chance of forming the government again. The probable new cabinet will be led by Laimdota Straujuma, the previous prime minister; and this means that Latvia’s pro-Euro-Atlantic policy will be continued.

The outcome of the election has proven that ethnic Latvians share the concern of the centre-right government coalition that Russia could make efforts to destabilise Latvia – mainly by using pro-Russian forces and the Russian minority – and do not want any changes in the country’s policy even though they are dissatisfied with the achievements of the previous centre-right government. In its latest campaign, Harmony relinquished its image of a party seeking reconciliation between ethnic Latvians and the Russian-speaking minority. At present, it is an openly pro-Russian party. It no longer conceals its political alliance with United Russia, which is a pro-Kremlin party, and it is standing more and more firmly for the rights of the Russian minority, including granting the status of second official language to Russian. According to Latvia’s centre-right parties, if this grouping took power in the present geopolitical situation, this could pose a threat to the country’s security.

The conflict between two political visions: maintaining the pro-Euro-Atlantic policy on the one hand and decreasing criticism of the Kremlin and developing economic co-operation with Russia on the other was the core of the election campaign. This is widening the political and ethnic divides among the residents of Latvia.