More than half—66%—of Latvian citizens believe that Prime Minister Evika Siliņa’s (JV) proposed government “restart” will not improve the government’s performance, according to the latest survey by research company Kantar, conducted for 360TV news.
Among those sceptical of the ministerial reshuffle, men, individuals aged 45 to 65, and high-income earners (earning 1 501 euros or more) were the most likely to express doubt.
Meanwhile, only 6% of Latvian residents believe that the “restart” will improve the government’s work, a sentiment most common among younger respondents aged 18 to 24.
Additionally, 28% of respondents found it difficult to formulate an opinion on the matter, with uncertainty being more prevalent among women and individuals aged 18 to 24.
Alongside general scepticism about the government reshuffle, 66% of respondents stated that the entire government should resign rather than merely replace individual ministers. A total of 38% fully agreed with this statement, with men, individuals aged 55 to 65, non-Latvians, residents of Latgale, and low-income earners (earning up to 300 euros per person in a household) being the most likely to support a full resignation.
Another 28% of respondents partially agreed that the government should resign, with this sentiment being more common among younger individuals aged 18 to 24. In contrast, 16% of respondents disagreed with the idea that the government should step down, while 18% were uncertain.
Regarding the possibility of forming a new government, 50% of respondents indicated that such a move should be considered regardless of geopolitical circumstances. This view was more commonly held by men and non-Latvians.
Conversely, 27% of respondents believed that, given the current geopolitical situation, forming a new government should not be an option. This perspective was more frequently expressed by women, younger individuals, and ethnic Latvians. Meanwhile, 23% of respondents found it difficult to formulate an opinion on the issue.
The survey was conducted by Kantar from the 4th to 6th of February 2025, polling 800 Latvian residents aged 18 to 65 via the internet across the country.