The centre-right Unity party’s celebrations appeared premature as it emerged that the pro-Russian Harmony party clinched the top spot in Latvia’s parliamentary elections.<br /><br />The centre-left group received 23.3 percent of the votes, while the prime minister Laimdota Straujuma’s party received 21.6 percent but she remain unflustered.<br /><br />“The coalition could remain the same. We will meet with coalition partners and negotiate.”<br /><br />That coalition of Unity, Union of Greens and Farmers, All for Latvia-For Fatherland and Freedom collectively received a larger share of the votes at 21.6, 19.7 and 16.5 per cent respectively than in 2011. Giving them a good foundation to retain their position, despite Harmony’s victory.<br /><br />The result highlighted the divisions in Latvia where ethnic Russians make up 21 percent of the electorate.<br /><br />The Harmony party leader claimed he should have the first attempt to form the government, however, the three-party ruling coalition look set to continue perhaps with the addition of a fourth party to boost their numbers.
