Latvia election: Kulbergs’ United List wins 42 of 100 Saeima seats
Why in the news
Latvia held parliamentary elections on 3 October 2026. With nearly all votes counted, Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs’ United List emerged as the clear winner with 42 seats.
Key facts
- Saeima: 100 seats; 51 needed for a majority.
- Winner: United List, led by PM Andris Kulbergs, took about 35% of the vote and 42 seats, up from 15 seats in 2022.
- Parties elected: six; turnout was the lowest in Latvia’s parliamentary history.
- Likely coalition: United List + National Alliance + New Unity = 59 seats, a working majority.
- New Unity, the largest party after 2022 with 26 seats, fell to 7.
Seat tally
| Party | Seats (2026) |
|---|---|
| United List | 42 |
| Latvia First | 17 |
| Sovereign Power/New Latvians | 15 |
| National Alliance | 10 |
| Progressives | 9 |
| New Unity | 7 |
About the Saeima election system
The Saeima is Latvia’s single-chamber parliament. Its 100 members are chosen by open-list proportional representation in five multi-member constituencies, with seats allocated using the Sainte-Lague method. A party needs at least 5% of the national vote to win seats.
Exam angle
- Parliament of Latvia: Saeima (100 seats, unicameral).
- Prime Minister: Andris Kulbergs (United List).
- Seat allocation method: Sainte-Lague; threshold 5%.