In Latvia elections win party near Russia

The Harmony Party, which has the support of most Russian-speaking minority in this state of Baltic, has won 19.9 per cent of the vote in the 6 October elections, the final results are said.

Election authorities have said today that the two populist parties -- who may be partners of the party Harmony, the KPV LV party and the New Conservative Party -- have won 14.1 per cent, respectively.

The Development Party, which is pro- The EU and NATO have emerged fourth in the elections, winning 12 per cent of the vote, leaving behind three parties currently in Prime Minister Maris Kuciski's ruling coalition.

The “Harmony has been and will be Latvia's most important party”, the candidate for prime minister of this subject, Vjaceslavs Dombrovski said after announcing the election results.

The election appearance was 54.6 percent, the Election Commission has announced.

In the past, other parties have refused to enter the ruling coalition with the Harmony Party. But, many observers say they expect the two populist parties will now try to form coalitions with this party that is close to the Kremlin.

Latvia ) EU and NATO members shared 270 km of border with Russia. Ethnic Russians live in this country, making up about 25 percent of the population.

Parties in Latvia have tried to keep pro-Russian politicians out of power, as the state seeks to strengthen ties with the West.

In past elections, the Harmony Party, although it had won the majority of votes, had failed to come to power, as other parties had refused to form a coalition with it due to ties with Russia. (REL)