The party – which currently has three seats in Brussels – put three big names at the top if its list, though this does not necessarily mean they would be the ones to take up the mandates if elected.
The leaders of the list will be the Executive Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis, Minister of Foreign Affairs Krišjānis Kariņš and Member of the European Parliament Sandra Kalniete.
Dombrovskis is a major presence in Brussels, though it is unlikely he would take up an MEP's mandate instead of his current job. Similarly, Foreign Minister Kariņš, who like Dombrovskis is a former Prime Minister and former MEP, has already made public his desire to become the next NATO Secretary General, so is clearly doing his best to keep his job options open. Kalniete meanwhile is one of New Unity's cadre of three MEPs alongside Dace Melbarde and Inese Vaidere, both of whom feature in the next two positions on the list.
The European Parliament elections take place June 8. Parties have until February 9 to file their party candidate lists.
A total of 15 parties have expressed a desire to participate in the EP elections, though it remains to be seen how many of them follow through with the necessary deposit and paperwork.
In the forthcoming elections, Latvia has one constituency from which nine members of the European Parliament will be elected.
Turnout in the previous European Parliament elections of 2019 was a lackluster 33.51% and all parties are expressing hopes that voters can be persuaded to participate in greater numbers this time around.
Citizens of Latvia, as well as citizens of other European Union member states who have reached the age of 18 on election day, have the right to participate in the European Parliament elections.
