When discussing results of the 14th Saeima elections in Latvia, Russian propaganda turned the direction in direction favourable to them, telling their audience that Latvian citizens voted for the Union of Greens and Farmers because they consider NATO forces as an occupying force in their home country.
«The Union of Greens and Farmers got second place in the 14th Saeima elections. It is Aivars Lembergs’ party. Lembergs is a person who did not condemn Russia’s special operation in Ukraine and is in favour of Latvia exiting NATO, which he called an occupying force in the country,» said Sputnik Lithuania editor in chief Marat Kasem during Solovjev live programme hosted by Russian propaganda expert Vladimir Solovjev.
Kasem said Latvian President Egils Levits’ meetings with parties elected to the 14th Saeima «very interesting».
«New Unity was the first party Levits met with. This party received the most votes. After that he met not with the Union of Greens and Farmers, which was next in terms of votes, but with other political parties – National Alliance and Combined List.»
«He didn’t meet with the parties based on the number of votes they had received in elections, rather the parties he finds interesting to communicate with, similarly minded parties, and he will continue on the Russophobic course,» Kasem continued.
In regards to New Unity, Kasem mentioned Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs the brightest representative of this government, comparing him to Josef Gebels, explaining to the audience that he opposed the referenda held within Ukraine’s territories occupied by Russian forces.
The Russian propaganda programme turned the victory in their desired direction – as if Latvians turned against NATO.
«115 000 people voted for the Union of Greens and Farmers – the same number of people in Latvia agree with Lembergs’ rhetoric and believe NATO forces are occupying the country. On top of that the Union of Greens and Farmers consists of Latvians only and most of the people voting for them are also Latvians. Russian-speakers don’t vote for this party. The reason is because the party consists of Latvians only and it does not pursue Russian topics. 115 000 ethnic Latvians, perhaps not all of them but at least 110 000 oppose Latvia’s remainder in NATO. This is a lot,» Kasem said.
He also said support for the National Alliance went down during elections, and this party gets voters by scaring people with Russian invasion.
BNN previously reported that Latvia’s President Egils Levits told Latvijas Radio programme Krustpunktā that the decision by the Union of Greens and Farmers to nominate Aivars Lembergs for the seat of Latvia’s prime minister would create enormous risks for the country and its security.
«[The party] has not distanced themselves from a person who represents oligarchy, corruption, and who is under sanctions imposed by our strategic allies. With such a person and a party that supports such a person – all of this is a security risk for Latvia. If some political party doesn’t understand this, they are outside the democratic spectrum.»
More more on this topic: President: nominating Lembergs for PM’s seat would cause enormous risks for Latvia’s security
Additionally, Latvia’s president has authorised New Unity’s representative Krišjānis Kariņš to commence coalition formation talks with other parties.
Kariņš said New Unity will be holding talks only with parties whose geopolitical course includes Latvia’s remainder in the EU and NATO member states family. Coalition formation talks continue with the Combined List, National Alliance and Progressive Party.
Representatives of multiple parties elected to the 14th Saeima have said they do not see themselves working with the Union of Greens and Farmers as long as the party maintains ties with Aivars Lembergs, who is under international sanctions and was previously found guilty of crimes of corruption.