Official results will be released later May 26 after all European Union member states have finished voting, but according to LTV New Unity has won 26% of the vote followed by Harmony with 18%, the National Alliance on 16% and Development/For! on 12%. 7% of the vote was garnered by the Latvian Russian Union (LKS).
However, the figures are based on 80% of votes cast and are subject to revision, it should be stressed.
Nevertheless, if accurate it would mean that New Unity, Harmony and the National Alliance would each get two European Parliament mandates while Development/For! and LKS would get one each.
If confirmed, the results would indicate that New Unity's turnaround over the last two years is set to continue. Beset by internal bickering and with polls showing less than 5% support in 2017, it lost its leading position in Saeima elections last October but showed signs of revival that appear to have continued in the European elections.
In another eye-catching aspect of the unofficial data, the New Conservative Party appears to have failed to win a European Parliament seat, as has KPV LV, meaning that neither of the two largest parties in the ruling coalition are likely to be represented in Brussels.
Turnout in Latvia was 33.5%, a slight improvement on the previous figure of 27% in 2014 but far behind the 54% participation rate a decade ago.
Results are set to be announced at midnight.
