Latvian elections against a background of geopolitical tensions

DEN HAAG (PDC) - On October 4th, Latvians will go to the polls to elect a new parliament. The elections take place against a background of instability and great uncertainty in Latvia's neighbourhood.

The recent events in Ukraine have made national security issues an important topic of debate in the election campaign. Political parties are split on the question of how Latvia should position itself between Moscow and the West. It has now been more than two decades ago that Latvia regained its independence from Russia after the end of the Cold War. Since then, the country has undergone many developments. 

Under the presidency of Europe Lecture speaker Vaire Vike-Freiberga, Latvia became a member of both NATO and the EU. While the Russian-speaking population and the Latvian ethnics have lived relatively peacefully side-by-side, the current crisis in Ukraine has fuelled tensions between the two communities. The issue might determine to a great extent what the political landscape will look like after the elections this week.

Listen here to Vike-Freiberga's view on how Latvia should position itself in light of the recent events in Ukraine.