site.btaLatvia's Far-right Has Three-step Political Plan

The far-right Latvia First party is one of seven political parties and coalitions in Latvia that will have seats in the new European Parliament, the party’s top candidate Vilis Kristopans, told BTA in an interview ahead of the European vote. His party came seventh, with 6.16% of the vote. However, this result was enough for the former prime minister of the Baltic republic to enter the European Parliament, as his party had to pass a threshold of 5% in the elections held on June 8. 

Contrary to opinion polls, the ruling New Unity party won the European Parliament elections in Latvia. The party, whose leading candidate is Vice-President of the European Commission for Economic Affairs Valdis Dombrovskis, part of the group of the European People's Party in the European Parliament, garnered the largest vote - 25.07%. 

Second was the National Alliance “All for Latvia!" – "For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK" with 22.08%, leaning towards the European Conservatives and Reformists. These two parties won two seats in the new European Parliament. The remaining five seats for Latvia in the European Parliament were divided between For Latvia’s Development (Renew Europe) – 9.36%, the United List (Greens) – 8.18%, the Progressives (The Left) – 7.42%, the Social Democratic Party Harmony (European Social Democrats) – 7.1%, and Latvia First, (Identity and Democracy). 

Latvia First's plan  

After the vote, Kristopans told BTA that this was the first of three steps in his party's political plan. "First was my seat in the European Parliament. The next goal is the local elections, in which the chairman of our party, Ainars Slesers, will run for mayor of Riga. If we take the capital, we are already attacking the parliament, and power," said the former basketball player and coach. "We are the party for which all those who are against the current government vote. We are the opposition. We are in a perfect political position," Kristopans added. 

"I said that we should take money from the climate policy budget and put it into defence policy – to protect against Russia. Europe cannot pursue both climate and defence policies at the same time. Only one party said this - our party," added Kristopans, according to whom basketball and politics are similar.