Pro-Russia party wins Latvia election

[Crn Volk]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45774578

Pro-Russia party wins Latvia election

A pro-Russia party has won the most votes in Latvia following Saturday's general election.

The Harmony party polled 19% with the pro-EU For Development party taking 12% and two populist parties, the KPV LV and the New Conservatives winning 27% between them.

In the past, parties have formed pacts to keep Harmony out of government.

Commentators say Harmony might now be able to form a government if it joins forces with the populist parties.

It will hold 24 seats in the 100-seat parliament, with the New Conservatives on 16 and KPV LV on 15.

"No coalition combination is possible without Harmony that would appear able and stable," Nils Ushakovs, Harmony chairman and mayor of the capital Riga told the Leta news agency.

Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis's governing coalition comprising the Union of Greens and Farmers, the National Alliance and the Unity party only won about 27%.

Their support was hit by public dissatisfaction over the fight against corruption and money-laundering - both key campaign issues.

Latvia shares a border with Russia and about a quarter of its 2.2 million population is Russian-speaking.

The Baltic state is a member of both Nato and the EU putting it on the front line of the increasingly tense relationship between the West and Moscow.

Nato has more than 1,000 troops in the country.

Harmony has said it wants Latvia to stay in the EU and Nato but to have closer economic ties with Russia.

Coalition talks could now last for several weeks.

[Mingle]

Harmony has said it wants Latvia to stay in the EU and Nato but to have closer economic ties with Russia.

Wow, so "pro-Russian". Latvia is still going to be part of the EU and NATO. Calling them pro-Russia is definitely a stretch.

Here is some info about them on their website (https://saskana.eu/par-mums/):


The Social-Democratic Party "Harmony" was established in 2010, uniting the "People's Harmony Party", the "New Center" party and the "Social Democratic Party". A little later, in January 2011, the "Daugavpils City Party" came to these three parties. Since the creation of the "Harmony" party, Janis Urbanovičs and Nils Ušakovs became their leaders.

The "People's Harassment Party" was formed on March 4, 1994, and its ideology was based on the left of central and social democratic values, as well as the defense of minority interests and closer co-operation with Russia. For more than a decade, by 2005, Janis Jurkāns was the chairman of the party, until he decided to leave the party during the Congress of People's Conscious Party parties. Association "Harmony Center" was formed, for which Sergey Dolgopolov, the "New Center", became the first leader. Later he was replaced by Nils Ušakovs. For a long time, the party's chairman was also Jānis Urbanovičs.

With each Saeima election, "Harmony" support for electors grew, with the party gaining more and more seats in the parliament, as well as in the Riga City Council.

Basically, its a leftist liberal party and caters to minorities. Since it caters to minorities and wants the vote of Russians (Latvia's main minority), it talks about wanting closer ties with Russia. But that is probably mostly talk since they can only get so close to Russia. Latvia is still going to be a core member of the EU and NATO, so its not a proper pro-Russia party.

[Not a Cop]

Wow, so "pro-Russian". Latvia is still going to be part of the EU and NATO. Calling them pro-Russia is definitely a stretch.

Here is some info about them on their website (https://saskana.eu/par-mums/):



Basically, its basically a leftist liberal party and caters to minorities. Since it caters to minorities and wants the vote of Russians (Latvia's main minority), it talks about wanting closer ties with Russia. But that is probably mostly talk since they can only get so close to Russia. Latvia is still going to be a core member of the EU and NATO, so its not a proper pro-Russia party.

Pro-Russians party would be a better word

[GabrielZ]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45774578

Pro-Russia party wins Latvia election

A pro-Russia party has won the most votes in Latvia following Saturday's general election.

The Harmony party polled 19% with the pro-EU For Development party taking 12% and two populist parties, the KPV LV and the New Conservatives winning 27% between them.

In the past, parties have formed pacts to keep Harmony out of government.

Commentators say Harmony might now be able to form a government if it joins forces with the populist parties.

It will hold 24 seats in the 100-seat parliament, with the New Conservatives on 16 and KPV LV on 15.

"No coalition combination is possible without Harmony that would appear able and stable," Nils Ushakovs, Harmony chairman and mayor of the capital Riga told the Leta news agency.

Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis's governing coalition comprising the Union of Greens and Farmers, the National Alliance and the Unity party only won about 27%.

Their support was hit by public dissatisfaction over the fight against corruption and money-laundering - both key campaign issues.

Latvia shares a border with Russia and about a quarter of its 2.2 million population is Russian-speaking.

The Baltic state is a member of both Nato and the EU putting it on the front line of the increasingly tense relationship between the West and Moscow.

Nato has more than 1,000 troops in the country.

Harmony has said it wants Latvia to stay in the EU and Nato but to have closer economic ties with Russia.

Coalition talks could now last for several weeks.

I can't see a pro-russian party. they just want to be neutral between the european-russian polarity

[Daugakrit]

I can't see a pro-russian party. they just want to be neutral between the european-russian polarity

This is correct.