---
title: "Parliamentary Elections Held in Latvia: The Race for 100 Seats in the Saeima"
description: "On October 3, 2026, Latvia held elections for its 15th Saeima, where 1,428 candidates from 14 parties competed for 100 parliamentary seats."
date: 2026-10-03T10:02:50.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/parliamentary-elections-held-in-latvia-2026
tags: [latvia, parliamentary-elections, saeima, politics, baltics]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Parliamentary Elections Held in Latvia: The Race for 100 Seats in the Saeima

![Polling station during parliamentary elections in Latvia](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/03/v-latvii-proshli-parlamentskie-vybory-2026/v-latvii-proshli-parlamentskie-vybory-2026-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Latvia held elections for the 15th Saeima.
- 1,428 candidates from 14 political entities competed for 100 seats.
- Parties must clear a 5% threshold to enter parliament.
- Winners will face coalition-building negotiations.

On the morning of October 3, 2026, parliamentary elections began in Latvia, with 1,428 candidates from various political forces competing for 100 seats in the country's 15th Saeima. Polling stations across the republic opened at 8:00 AM and closed at 8:00 PM local time, giving citizens the opportunity to determine the state's future political direction. ### Organization and Election Participants

According to official data from the Central Election Commission of Latvia, 933 polling stations were established domestically and another 88 abroad for the diaspora. A total of 14 political parties and alliances participated in the electoral race. Among them are the leading forces of the current ruling coalition, including 'New Unity', the 'United List', the 'National Alliance', and the 'Union of Greens and Farmers', alongside various opposition movements.

### Proportional System and Thresholds

Under Latvia's electoral system, the 100 seats in the parliament are distributed proportionally. Political parties or coalitions must secure at least 5% of the vote to secure a seat in the legislature. This system traditionally encourages the formation of coalition governments, as no single political force typically wins an outright majority on its own.

### Post-Election Process and Forecasts

The Latvian Constitution dictates that following the official election results and the formation of the new parliament, the president consults with the elected political forces and nominates a candidate for prime minister. The new government must then win a vote of confidence in the Saeima. According to preliminary forecasts, centrist forces are expected to win the largest share of seats, though they will likely need to form a coalition to govern.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [В Латвии прошли парламентские выборы.](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/latvia-bau-cu-quoc-hoi) - Основной источник информации о начале голосования, количестве кандидатов и мест.
- ["Нам здесь не нужна никакая "помощь" от Путина". В Латвии проходят парламентские выборы: кто ...](https://www.currenttime.tv/a/v-latvii-prohodyat-parlamentskie-vybory/33869269.html) - Контекст проходящих выборов и безопасность в регионе.
- [В Латвии проходят парламентские выборы](https://www.aa.com.tr/ru/мир/в-латвии-проходят-парламентские-выборы/4076876) - Подтверждение дат и времени работы избирательных участков.
- ["Надо бороться за каждого, чтобы страна выстояла". В Латвии проходят выборы в Сейм](https://www.currenttime.tv/a/v-latvii-prohodyat-vybory-v-seym/33869203.html) - Контекст проходящих выборов и безопасность в регионе.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: How many seats are contested in Latvia's parliament?
**A:** There are 100 seats contested in the Latvian Saeima.

### Q: What is the electoral threshold in Latvia?
**A:** Parties and coalitions must secure at least 5% of the vote to enter parliament.