Latvia First: The populist movement aiming to transform Riga into the Dubai of the North

Countries & Cities · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Founded by businessman Ainārs Šlesers, Latvia First has quickly emerged as a right-wing populist force in Latvian politics. From its origins in anti-vaccination protests to its recent electoral success in Riga, the party blends social conservatism with bold promises of rapid economic development and infrastructure investment for the capital city.

Latvia First, or Latvija pirmajā vietā (LPV), was established in August 2021 by Ainārs Šlesers, a former Minister of Transport and vice-mayor of Riga. The party’s trajectory began with an organization registered on 1 July 2021, followed by a formal founding congress in Riga on 14 August 2021. Since its inception, the party has been characterized by observers as populist, with some descriptions labeling it as Trumpist or quasi-Trumpian. Its platform emphasizes national interests, traditional family values, and demographic support, while simultaneously advocating for deregulation, lower taxes, and increased investment in technology and national security.

The party’s early political activity was marked by intense opposition to COVID-19 mandates. In late 2021, LPV organized several protests against compulsory vaccination requirements in healthcare and education sectors. During these events, leadership issued an ultimatum to President Egils Levits, threatening his recall if he did not satisfy their demands regarding government changes and the preservation of voluntary vaccination. Despite the lack of follow-through on these threats, the party maintained its visibility. By 2022, the party faced scrutiny from the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau, which concluded that LPV and Šlesers had violated campaign finance and disclosure regulations.

In the 2025 municipal elections, Šlesers campaigned on a platform of economic revitalization, specifically pledging to turn Riga into the 'Dubai of the North'. The party secured 18.7% of the vote in the capital, the highest share among contenders. However, the party subsequently challenged these results, alleging irregularities in the electronic voting system and vote counting. The Administrative Regional Court rejected these claims. Today, the party remains active in the European Parliament as part of the Patriots for Europe group, continuing to balance its domestic populist agenda with its stated support for continued membership in NATO and the European Union.

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