Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins is most likely expected to win. "Russians invading Ukraine helps Karins to secure voters in Latvia because in such times people tend to rally around the flag," Krastins said. Harmony, which has come first in recent elections but has lacked enough allies to govern the Baltic state, got 5.1 percent. Some Russian speakers in Ukraine say Latvian attitudes towards them have deteriorated since the war started and feel their linguistic and cultural identity is being challenged. "In Latvia, Russian-speakers are in a way collateral victims of the war," said Miroslavs Mitrofanovs, co-chairman of the Latvian Russian Union party.

Source: The Star October 02, 2022 01:39 UTC