United List
United List Apvienotais saraksts | |
|---|---|
.png) | |
| Abbreviation | AS |
| Leader | Uldis Pīlēns |
| Chairman | Edvards Smiltēns Edgars Tavars |
| Founded | 1 July 2022 |
| Split from | Union of Greens and Farmers |
| Headquarters | Riga |
| Ideology | Regionalism Green conservatism[1] |
| Political position | Centre[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] |
| European Parliament group | European Conservatives and Reformists Group[10] |
| Members | |
| Saeima | 15 / 100 |
| European Parliament | 1 / 9 |
| Website | |
| apvienotaissaraksts.lv | |
The United List (Latvian: Apvienotais saraksts, AS) is a regionalist and green conservative political alliance in Latvia established to ahead of the 2022 parliamentary election. The list was formed by the Latvian Green Party, the Latvian Association of Regions, and the Liepāja Party, together with the "United List of Latvia" (Latvian: Apvienotais Latvijas saraksts) association led by Liepāja construction contractor Uldis Pīlēns.
History
[edit]The idea for the electoral alliance, developed from May 2022 onwards, initially used the name "United List of Latvia" (Latvijas apvienotais saraksts). Initiated by Uldis Pīlēns, it sought to bring together political parties and non-partisan professionals in a common electoral list based on the earlier experience of the United List of Liepāja (Liepājas apvienotais saraksts). The non-governmental association created to support the project was scheduled to hold its founding event on 1 July and was to be named United List of Latvia (Apvienotais Latvijas saraksts).[11]
One of the catalysts in the origins of the alliance was the refusal of the Green and Liepāja parties to work with their former Union of Greens and Farmers partners who had continued to promote Aivars Lembergs as its prime ministerial candidate despite his criminal conviction.[12]
The alliance's joint candidate list for the 2022 Latvian parliamentary election was registered on 26 July 2022, with Didzis Šmits as the lead candidate, followed by Edvards Smiltēns, Edgars Tavars, Māris Kučinskis, and Juris Viļums. Pīlēns was announced as the alliance's candidate for Prime Minister, although he did not run as a parliamentary candidate.[13] The United List received 100,631 votes (11.01%) and won 15 seats in the Saeima, becoming the third-largest parliamentary group.[14]
On 6 December 2022, the United List announced its ministerial candidates as part of the coalition government formation process with New Unity and the National Alliance. Its nominees included the non-affiliated Līga Meņģelsone for Health Minister, Didzis Šmits for Agriculture Minister, Māris Kučinskis for Interior Minister, and Māris Sprindžuks for Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development.[15]
Ideology
[edit]The alliance places national security, effective state administration, and the development of a green economy among its main priorities. Its programme highlights the importance of the defence industry and a stronger NATO presence in the region. It also supports greater use of local renewable energy resources and sustainable economic development. In addition, the alliance advocates making referendums easier to initiate.[16]
The alliance also emphasizes cooperation with European Union partners. Its economic priorities include reducing regional inequalities and promoting more balanced development across the country, particularly by supporting rural development and increasing political accountability to municipalities.[17]
Members
[edit]| Party | Ideology | Position | Leader | Saeima | MEPs | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Latvian Association of Regions Latvijas Reģionu apvienība |
Centre | Edvards Smiltēns | 7 / 100 |
0 / 9 | ||
 |
Latvian Green Party Latvijas Zaļā partija |
Centre to centre-right |
Edgars Tavars | 4 / 100 |
0 / 9 | ||
 |
Liepāja Party Liepājas partija |
Localism | Centre | Uldis Sesks | 1 / 100 |
0 / 9 | |
| Independents | 3 / 100 |
1 / 9 | |||||
Election results
[edit]Legislative elections
[edit]| Election | Leader | Performance | Rank | Government | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | ± pp | Seats | +/– | ||||
| 2022 | Uldis Pīlēns | 100,631 | 11.01 | New | 15 / 100 |
New | 3rd | Coalition (2022–2023) |
| Opposition (2023-2026) | ||||||||
| Coalition (2026) | ||||||||
European Parliament elections
[edit]| Election | Party leader | Performance | Rank | EP Group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | ± pp | Seats | +/– | ||||
| 2024 | Reinis Pozņaks | 42,551 | 8.27 | New | 1 / 9 |
New | 4th | ECR |
References
[edit]- ↑ Deloy, Corinne (4 October 2022). "New Unity of outgoing Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins wins the general elections in Latvia". Robert Schuman Foundation. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
Next came the United List (AS), an alliance of Green and conservative environmentalist parties, with 10.88% and 15 seats
- ↑ "Country Reports: Latvia". Freedom in the World 2023: The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties. Freedom House; Bloomsbury Publishing. 2024. p. 657. ISBN 9-798-21633-288-6.
In December, New Unity established a ruling coalition with the newly formed centrist alliance United List, which won 15 seats, and the right-wing National Alliance, which won 13.
- ↑ "Three parties sign coalition deal to form Latvia's government". Associated Press. 14 December 2022.
The junior partners will be the conservative National Alliance and the new centrist electoral alliance United List.
- ↑ "Latvia's election confirms decisive win for pro-Western over pro-Moscow parties". Euronews. 2 October 2022.
With over 99% of the votes counted, Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš' New Unity party had captured 19% support, while the opposition Greens and Farmers Union was second with 12.5% and the new centrist electoral alliance United List — made up of several regional parties — was third with 10.9%.
- ↑ "Latvian parliament approves new government after previous leader's coalition collapsed over drones". The Washington Post. 28 May 2026.
The parliament, or Saeima, approved the four-party coalition under new Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs of the centrist United List party, which was previously in opposition, the LETA news agency reported.
- ↑ "Latvian parliament approves new government after previous leader's coalition collapsed over drones". CTV News. 1 October 2022.
The poll also predicted that a new centrist party that favors green development -- United List -- would be second with 11.5 per cent of the vote and the opposition Greens and Farmers Union would come in third with 10.9 per cent support.
- ↑ Morwinsky, Oliver (29 May 2026). "New government in Latvia: Four-party alliance under Kulbergs". Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
The 47-year-old businessman, economist and trained car mechanic from the centrist United List (Apvienotais saraksts, AS)
- ↑ "Latvia political briefing: 2025 Latvian Regional Elections Take Place Amidst Systemic Issues" (PDF). Monthly Briefing. 6 (1). China-CEE Institute: 5. ISSN 3058-1214). Retrieved 2 August 2026.
The remaining seats were distributed among the right-wing National Alliance (NA) with 10 seats; the incumbent mayor's centre-right New Unity (JV) with 9 seats; the populist Sovereign Power/Union of Young Latvians (SV/AJ) with 8 seats; the pro-Russian party For Stability! (S!) with 5 seats; and the centrist United List (AS) with 4 seats.
{{cite journal}}: Check|issn=value (help) - ↑ Mix, Derek E. (7 January 2026). "Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania: Background and U.S.-Baltic Relations" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
Under then-Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš, who had led a coalition government since 2019, New Unity subsequently formed a coalition government with the centrist United List, which won 15 seats, and the conservative National Alliance, which won 13 seats.
- ↑ "ECR grows to 77 seats after first parliamentary group meeting". European Conservatives and Reformists. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ↑ Lasmanis, Jānis (11 May 2022). "Uldis Pīlēns wants to save Latvia with the formula that saved Liepāja 25 years ago". Neatkarīgā Rīta Avīze. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
- ↑ "What are the most likely Latvian coalition models?". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. 2022-10-03. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ↑ "Eight political parties register candidate lists for upcoming Saeima elections". Baltic News Network. LETA. 27 July 2022.
- ↑ "All votes counted; seven lists make it into the Saeima". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. 2 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ↑ "United List names its minister candidates". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ↑ "Saeima Elections 2022: All The Parties (Part 4)". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. 9 September 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ↑ Chu, Leo (28 September 2022). "Latvian Parliamentary Elections: Party Platform Guide". Foreign Policy Research Institute. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
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