The presidential rating polls have been carried out by SKDS since 1996. Levits' rating has slightly improved within the past few months but has been steadily negative since November 2020, meaning that more respondents evaluate his work negatively than positively.
In March of this year, 27% of a total of 888 respondents evaluated Levits' work positively and 64% negatively. It is also shown that the electorate of coalition parties New Unity and National Alliance are more likely to evaluate his work positively. 68% of New Unity electorate said they valued Levits' work positively (54% rather positively, 14% very positively), whereas 24% said the work was valued rather negatively and 6% – very negatively.
National Alliance's electorate rated his work positively at 47% of the respondents (41% rather positively and 6% very positively), whereas 45% said they rated it negatively (33% rather negatively, 12% very negatively). The Conservatives party electorate also had a positive sum of results.
Among the electorate of the third coalition party, United List, 22% said the work was valued rather positively, 35% rather negatively, and 40% very negatively. Supporters of all other parties showed a negative total balance in the evaluation.
Historically, the highest-ever public rating has been recorded for president Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, the only one to be elected for a second term. Meanwhile, since the Levits' predecessor Raimonds Vējonis was elected, the ratings have been going downhill with only momentary upticks.
Currently, there are two confirmed candidates for the presidential run – incumbent Egils Levits and entrepreneur, founder of the United List political grouping Uldis Pīlēns. It is by no means certain that Pīlēns and Levits will be the only contenders.
The presidential vote will take place on May 31, 2023. For a full account of how the president is chosen on voting day, check this story from our archives. In addition, the official presidential website has plenty of information in English.
