Voices of the centre, shadows of the fringes – Latvia's political fork in the road?
On 7 June 2025, Latvia held nationwide local elections for new local councils – a date that would normally attract limited international attention. This year's local elections in Latvia's capital Riga became a barometer of sentiment for the entire country: while populist actors such as Ainārs Šlesers made gains, the forces of the democratic centre were able to maintain their position – for the time being. Despite a slight increase in voter turnout, more than half of eligible voters stayed away from the polls – a result that underlines the deeper social tensions in the country. The east of Latvia remains a problem child in terms of security policy – with a view to Moscow. The mayor of Riga, Vilnis Ķirsis, and his pro-European party "New Unity" prevailed despite the difficult starting position and consolidated their role as a stabilizing force in the Latvian capital.
