How a Latvian political party rose to prominence and then fractured within five years

How a Latvian political party rose to prominence and then fractured within five years
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In short: Founded in 2021 by former Harmony party members, For Stability! quickly captured thousands of votes with a radical platform targeting pandemic restrictions and EU membership. Yet, internal dissent, legal scrutiny, and high-profile departures have rapidly eroded its parliamentary presence, transforming the party from a rising electoral force into a fractured group.

For Stability! was established on 26 February 2021 by Aleksejs Rosļikovs and Valērijs Petrovs, two former Riga councilors. The party emerged from a desire to create a political entity free of external sponsors, aiming to stabilize the state. Its initial momentum was significant; in the 2022 parliamentary election, it secured 62,168 votes, or 6.8% of the total, earning 11 seats in the 14th Saeima. This performance was widely viewed as a major success, largely attributed to its ability to attract voters who had previously supported the Harmony party.

The party's platform is characterized by a push for radical governance changes, including the direct election of the president, the expansion of voting rights to non-citizens, and a reduction in the size of the government. It advocates for Latvia’s withdrawal from the European Union and the pursuit of a sovereign economic policy, while also calling for the prosecution of politicians involved in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. These positions, combined with protests against vaccination mandates, positioned the party as a more aggressive alternative to established political groups.

Despite its electoral breakthrough, the party has faced persistent instability. It has been subject to warnings from the State Security Service regarding its members' interactions with foreign propaganda outlets. Internal cohesion has also suffered, with numerous members resigning or being expelled due to legal issues, language proficiency disputes, and disagreements over the party's working style. By February 2026, the departure of several key MPs led to the formal disbanding of the party's parliamentary faction, which had shrunk from its original 11 members to just five. This decline reflects the intense pressure the party has faced from both the state's security apparatus and the broader political environment.

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