Latvian voter turnout and preferences in the 2024 European Parliament elections

Abstract

The article analyzes the activity and choices of Latvian voters in the 2024 European Parliament elections. The European Parliament is the only directly elected international institution in the world, allowing every citizen of the European Union to influence the future of Europe as a whole. In Latvia, 33.82% of eligible voters participated in the 2024 elections, reflecting a slowdown in the previously observed trend of declining participation, which can be cautiously viewed as a positive development. The 2024 elections took place during geopolitical crises, including the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, influencing voter decisions. The results show that voters tended to support political parties with experience and/or well-known candidates. This benefited parties already represented in the European Parliament, such as New Unity and the National Alliance. It also gave newcomers like the United List and the Progressives their first opportunity to enter the EP. It is noteworthy that the success of the Progressives is largely driven by the demand from younger voters for a new type of left-wing party associated with social justice, ecological justice, and equal rights for all ‒ a modern, patriotic, leftist movement. Voters’ choices reflect a focus on geopolitical and national interests, especially highlighting security and stability which dominate the political discourse. Voters consider the performance of national political parties as sufficiently successful and continue to place their trust in them. This suggests that no significant changes in Latvia’s political landscape are expected in the near future, including the upcoming 2025 municipal elections.