Latvian PM Kulbergs' party leads in parliamentary election exit polls
United List expected to win most votes but will need coalition partners to govern.
AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised · How this was made
Andris Kulbergs
Photograph: Gints Ivuskans via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
What this story says
- Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' United List party is projected to win parliamentary elections held on Saturday, based on exit poll results.
- An exit poll by Latvian public broadcaster LSM indicated the United List secured 35.6% of the vote.
- The election takes place amid warnings from Baltic countries about potential Russian aggression and hybrid attacks.
- Kulbergs stated, "We cannot be the weakest link. We have to be strong," emphasising unity on NATO's eastern flank.
Who covered it
Percentages are shares of the 23 outlets carrying a published leaning rating. 19 of the 42 outlets we know ran this story carry no rating and are not counted in them. Coverage measured .
Trust
42/100
Craft
61/100
Hype
41/100
42 sources · methodology
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' United List party appeared to be leading in parliamentary elections held on Saturday, according to exit polls. An exit poll conducted by Latvian public broadcaster LSM showed the United List winning 35.6% of the votes. The election occurred with Baltic countries having issued warnings about potential Russian aggression and hybrid attacks.
Prime Minister Kulbergs commented on the security situation, stating, "We cannot be the weakest link. We have to be strong." He added, "All of the Eastern Flank, same unity. So that's what we are striving for. We are Europe's outside border, which has to be strong." Latvia is a member of NATO.
Disagreement on second-place party
While exit polls showed the United List in first place, reports differed on the second-place finisher. Devdiscourse and rmf24.pl reported the populist Latvia First party came second with 11.3% of the vote. However, other reports did not specify a second-place party or its vote share.
What the coverage left out
None of the left-rated digests mention the specific vote percentage for the populist Latvia First party, which was reported by Devdiscourse and rmf24.pl. None of the right-rated digests mention the specific vote percentage for the populist Latvia First party, which was reported by Devdiscourse and rmf24.pl.
Still developing. We have re-checked which outlets are covering this 1 time, most recently on 3 Oct 2026, 19:00, and will add the sides that appear.
How each side covered it
Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.
Left
3 rated outlets
- The left-rated reports highlighted the centrist, pro-Ukraine stance of Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' United List party. Zeit Online's digest stated a clear victory for the United List, giving its vote percentage. TVN24.pl's digest also noted the party's centrist and pro-Ukrainian alignment in its reporting of the exit poll results. Lawyers, Guns & Money's digest provided context on the Latvian parliament's structure and election system, mentioning the number of seats and electoral method.
Centre
10 rated outlets
- Centre-rated reports focused on Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' United List party leading in the election exit polls, often noting the need for coalition building. Devdiscourse, in its full report, stated the United List appeared ahead, citing the LSM exit poll's 35.6% figure and mentioning the populist Latvia First party as second with 11.3%. ANSA's digest mentioned populists growing due to expensive prices and pointed to tycoon Ainars Slesser. Portfolio and Market Screener digests also reported the United List's expected win and the necessity of coalition partners. Hola News' digest noted the election's political fragmentation and Kulbergs' party starting as a favourite. The Mighty 790 KFGO and WTVB digests similarly reported the United List's lead and the expectation of coalition building. Lietuvos Radijas ir Televizija's digest discussed Kulbergs' political power and mentioned a politician known for Russian contacts and a right-wing populist candidate. bne IntelliNews' digest focused on the expectation of a fragmented parliament and divisions over defence spending and Ukraine aid.
Right
10 rated outlets
- Right-rated reports in the digests focused on Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' United List party leading in the election exit polls, with several mentioning the need for coalition partners. KELO Newstalk 1320 107.9, The Star Kuala Lumpur, WSAU, The Mighty 790 KFGO, WKZO, and BT digests all reported that the United List looked set to win but would need to build a coalition. La Razón's digest specifically stated the "Conservative United List Party Wins General Elections in Latvia," citing 35.6% of the votes. Die Presse's digest reported a "Landslide Victory for the Ruling Party in Latvia," noting the United List scored 35.6 percent of the votes, a 24 percentage point increase from the previous ballot.
Questions about this coverage
- How did the left and right cover Latvian PM Kulbergs' party leads in parliamentary election exit polls?
- Of the 23 outlets on this story carrying a published leaning rating, 13% are rated left, 43% are rated centre, 44% are rated right. Those percentages are shares of the rated outlets, not of every outlet that ran it, which was 42. The sections above set out what each side emphasised, in its own terms.
- Is Latvian PM Kulbergs' party leads in parliamentary election exit polls left or right?
- Neither side dominates it. Of the 23 rated outlets on this story, 13% are rated left, 43% are rated centre, 44% are rated right, and no side holds the 70% this site would want before calling a field one-sided. A story is not left or right in any case; the outlets that carried it are what carry ratings.
- Is the coverage of Latvian PM Kulbergs' party leads in parliamentary election exit polls biased?
- Latvian PM Kulbergs' party leads in parliamentary election exit polls is one event reported by 42 outlets, and this page does not rate the story as biased or unbiased. What it publishes is the spread: which outlets ran it, where named rating organisations place each of them on the spectrum, and what each side chose to lead with. A leaning rating describes an outlet's record over time, not this article, and the two should not be run together.
- Which outlets covered Latvian PM Kulbergs' party leads in parliamentary election exit polls?
- 42 that we know of, every one of them listed further up this page with a link to its own report and to what we hold on the publisher. Nothing here is a summary of somebody else's summary: the outlets are named so the original reporting can be read.
- Which party won the Latvian parliamentary elections according to exit polls?
- According to exit polls, Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' United List party appeared to be leading the parliamentary elections. An exit poll by Latvian public broadcaster LSM showed the United List winning 35.6% of the votes.
- What is the political context of the Latvian election?
- The election took place amid warnings from Baltic countries about potential Russian aggression and hybrid attacks. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs emphasised the need for strength and unity on NATO's eastern flank, stating, "We cannot be the weakest link."
- Will the United List party govern alone?
- Exit polls indicate that while the United List is projected to win the most votes, it is unlikely to secure an outright majority. Reports suggest the party will need to build coalitions with other parties to form a government.
Read it at the source
42 outlets, grouped by the leaning a published rating gives them. Every headline links to the original; an underlined outlet name opens our profile of that publisher.
Left
3- Parliamentary Elections in Latvia: Central Right Alliance in Latvia According to Forecast (opens Zeit Online in a new tab)
Zeit Online — is Zeit Online biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Latvian Elections Overshadowed by Warnings. Exit Poll Results Are In. (opens TVN24.pl in a new tab)
- Election of the Weekend I: Latvia (opens Lawyers, Guns & Money in a new tab)
Lawyers, Guns & Money — is Lawyers, Guns & Money biased? Our profile of this outlet
Centre
10- Latvia to Vote, Outgoing Prime Minister Kulbergs Is the Favorite (opens ANSA in a new tab)
- Elections Were Held in the EU Member State, Here Are the Exit Polls (opens Portfolio in a new tab)
- Latvian PM Kulbergs ahead in parliamentary election (opens Devdiscourse in a new tab)
Devdiscourse — is Devdiscourse biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Latvia PM's United List ahead in election, exit poll shows (opens Market Screener in a new tab)
Market Screener — is Market Screener biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Latvian Polling Stations Open for General Elections with Background Fragmentation (opens Hola News in a new tab)
- Latvia PM’s United List ahead in election, exit poll shows (opens The Mighty 790 KFGO in a new tab)
The Mighty 790 KFGO — is The Mighty 790 KFGO biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Latvia heads to election with fragmented parliament expected (opens bne IntelliNews in a new tab)
bne IntelliNews — is bne IntelliNews biased? Our profile of this outlet
- New Prime Minister, Latvian Trump, Russian-Speaking Candidates: Who Will Win the Elections in Latvia? (opens Lietuvos Radijas ir Televizija in a new tab)
Right
10- Latvia PM’s United List ahead in election, exit poll shows (opens WSAU in a new tab)
- Latvia PM’s United List ahead in election, exit poll shows (opens KELO Newstalk 1320 107.9 in a new tab)
KELO Newstalk 1320 107.9 — is KELO Newstalk 1320 107.9 biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Latvia PM's United List ahead in election, exit poll shows (opens The Star Kuala Lumpur in a new tab)
The Star Kuala Lumpur — is The Star Kuala Lumpur biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Poll: Latvia's Ruling Party Becomes the Largest Party in the Election (opens BT in a new tab)
- Conservative United List Party Wins General Elections in Latvia, According to Urn-Footed Poll (opens La Razón in a new tab)
- Poll: Latvia's Ruling Party Becomes the Largest Party in the Election (opens berlingske.dk in a new tab)
berlingske.dk — is berlingske.dk biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Exit-Polls: Landslide Victory for the Ruling Party in Latvia (opens Die Presse in a new tab)
Die Presse — is Die Presse biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Latvia PM’s United List ahead in election, exit poll shows (opens WTAQ in a new tab)
Not rated
19- Latvians Have Voted. The Ruling Party Triumphs in the Exit Polls. (opens rmf24.pl in a new tab)
- Poll: Latvia's Ruling Party Becomes the Largest Party in the Election (opens avisendanmark.dk in a new tab)
avisendanmark.dk — is avisendanmark.dk biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Voters Have Perceived Kulbergs as a New and Strong Leader, Says Expert (opens pmo.ee in a new tab)
- The Elections in Latvia Have Concluded. Polls Show that the "United List" Has Won. (opens jauns.lv in a new tab)
- Latvia Elections: 1,428 Candidates for 100 Seats (opens tpo.nl in a new tab)
- Latvian Prime Minister: We Cannot Be the Weak Link (opens Quotidiano Nazionale in a new tab)
Quotidiano Nazionale — is Quotidiano Nazionale biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Latvian Prime Minister: We Cannot Be the Weak Link (opens Askanews in a new tab)
- Latvian Elections: At the Polls Under the Shadow of Russian Threats - Kullbergs Leads in the Polls (opens parapolitika.gr in a new tab)
parapolitika.gr — is parapolitika.gr biased? Our profile of this outlet
Show 11 more
- 1,428 Candidates Are Vying for a Seat in Latvia's 100-Member Seimas (opens aripaev.ee in a new tab)
aripaev.ee — is aripaev.ee biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Parliamentary Elections Start in Latvia: Key Points and Predictions of Results (opens 1news.com.ua in a new tab)
1news.com.ua — is 1news.com.ua biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Latvians, Concerned About Security and Costs, Elect New Parliament (opens 24sata.hr in a new tab)
- Latvia: At the Polls Under the Shadow of Russian Threats and Drone "Invasions" (opens ertnews.gr in a new tab)
ertnews.gr — is ertnews.gr biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Latvia PM’s United List ahead in election, exit poll shows (opens whtc.com in a new tab)
- Latvia PM’s United List ahead in election, exit poll shows (opens WIN 98.5 in a new tab)
- ELECTIONS IN LATVIA: Milder Forces Towards Russia Could Make a Strong Result (opens ohtuleht.ee in a new tab)
ohtuleht.ee — is ohtuleht.ee biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- Latvian Prime Minister Before Election: "We Know What the Russian Bear Thinks, Eats, Drinks and Does" (opens altinget.dk in a new tab)
altinget.dk — is altinget.dk biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Elections in Latvia: Premier Andris Kulbergs' Party, Favored in Polls. The Country Is Divided by the Tense Relationship with Russia (opens antena3.ro in a new tab)
antena3.ro — is antena3.ro biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Latvia's Pro-Ukraine Prime Minister Leads Polls Ahead of Parliamentary Elections (opens Unknown in a new tab)
Unknown
- Who Leads Latvia Ahead of Parliamentary Elections — Poll Results (opens Unknown in a new tab)
Unknown
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