## Proven Personnel So, all the candidates for parliamentary mandates are known, and now we can see who is eager to take warm seats in the Saeima. It is worth noting that these elections, in terms of personnel composition, are not much different from previous parliamentary elections – parties are actively attracting proven personnel to their lists: former Saeima deputies and local government officials, as well as ex-ministers and even former Members of the European Parliament. However, in this election, after 15 years, one of the former presidents is also participating! ## The People Do Not Trust Former Presidents In 2011, Valdis Zatlers ran in the extraordinary Saeima elections, but he was unable to be elected for a second term. And now, in 2026, former president Raimonds Vējonis has decided to run for the Saeima from the United List. It is noteworthy that another former president, Andris Bērziņš, unsuccessfully ran in the 2017 elections for the Riga City Council. Let us remind you that Valdis Zatlers led the country from 2007 to 2011, Andris Bērziņš from 2011 to 2015, and Raimonds Vējonis from 2015 to 2019. Two former prime ministers are also running for the 15th Saeima – Evika Siliņa (New Unity) and Māris Kučinskis (Union of Greens and Farmers). But let’s turn to other former ministers and deputies who are trying to get into the new Saeima. ## Who Are the Former Ones? The largest number of former ministers is on the list of the once main ruling party – New Unity – with as many as 9: Arvils Ašeradens, Inese Lībiņa-Egnere, Raimonds Čudars, Dace Melbārde, Inga Bērziņa, Jānis Reirs, Girts-Valdis Kristovskis, and Kārlis Šadurskis. Moreover, the last two are “universal soldiers”: they have not only been ministers but have also worked in several convocations of the Saeima, served as local government deputies, and even as MEPs! And again, candidate for the 15th Saeima Evika Siliņa was the head of the Ministry of Welfare even before her premiership. In second place in terms of the number of former ministers attracted to the list is the Union of Greens and Farmers. From this coalition, 6 ex-ministers are running for the Saeima: Armands Krauze, Kaspars Melņis, Sandis Griģens, Jānis Duklavs, Pēteris Apinis, and Oskars Kastens, who was once an MEP. It should be noted that both of these political forces are also sending current ministers to parliament. The United List has sent into battle for seats in the new parliament, alongside the current prime minister and ministers, three ex-ministers: Raimonds Bergmanis, Liga Mengelson, and Raimonds Vējonis, who has not only held the presidency but also served as ministers of the environment, regional development, and defense. The opposition party “Progressives” has also delegated former ministers to the candidate list – Kaspars Briškens, Atis Švinks, Agnese Logina, Agnese Lace, and Andris Sprūds. The National Alliance, in addition to current ministers, has included two ex-ministers in its candidate list – Ināra Mūrniece and Gatis Eglītis. Two former ministers are also running from “Latvia First” – Ainars Slesers and Ainars Baštiks. Two more former ministers can be found in the party “For the Development of Latvia” – Juris Pūce and Artūrs-Toms Plešs. ## And Former City Mayors Former city mayors are also rushing to the Saeima – these are the ex-mayors of Riga and Rēzekne, Andris Argalis and Aleksandrs Bartashevich, respectively (both from “Latvia First”), and another ex-mayor of Riga, Olegs Burovs (Union of Greens and Farmers). Smaller caliber mayors are also vying for republican power – these include the former mayor of Jelgava, Andris Rāviņš (Union of Greens and Farmers), as well as the ex-mayors of Jūrmala, Rita Sproge (Union of Greens and Farmers) and Romualds Ražuks (United List). ## We Will Sing Again Party names and party leaders change, but the tradition of attracting singers, composers, and athletes to candidate lists remains. Thus, the new political force “We Change the Rules” has nominated pop singer Aivars Mihelavs as a candidate for deputy, while singer Ieva Akuratere is running from the New Conservative Party. The most titled boxer in the country, Riga City Council deputy Mairis Briedis, is on the “Latvia First” list. In the “Stability!” party list is also a former athlete, participant in two Summer Olympics, Saeima deputy Efimiy Klementyev. The presence of former ministers, cultural figures, and athletes does not guarantee success in elections, but it provides a good chance to attract voters' votes – due to, of course, the recognizability of their names. ## I Want to Get a Job in the Saeima Overall, the main problem for all parties is personnel! Even a popular party finds it quite difficult to attract people to participate in elections, especially in the lower positions on the list, where the chances of getting into the Saeima are extremely low. Therefore, almost every list contains candidates who... do not even have official jobs. Many of them honestly write in the “occupation” field – unemployed. But there are also those who “are embarrassed” by their lack of employment and indicate that they are... leaders or board members of some society or another non-governmental organization. At the same time, it is quite obvious that they do not receive any income from this public work and de facto are also unemployed. Among the candidates are people who have only completed 9 grades. There is nothing shameful about this, of course, but what will they do in the Saeima, what kind of legislation can they engage in without any profession or knowledge?! It seems that for them, the main goal in the elections is to receive a stable salary for four years. However, this is for the voters to decide! Just as it is for voters to decide whether to pay attention to the age of the candidates when voting. ## Only Old People Are Going to Battle The oldest candidate for deputy is 88 years old, and he continues his labor path – teaching at a technical school! It is noteworthy that he graduated from university during the young Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev – in the distant 1960! Three candidates for deputies are 85 years old, one of the candidates for a deputy position teaches at a university at the age of 83, and one of the four 81-year-old candidates for deputies continues to work as a pediatrician. Two candidates for parliament are celebrating their 80th anniversary this year. Another 35 candidates for deputies are over 70... Well, as they say, if health and strength allow... By the way, there is also a deputy in today’s parliament who will turn 77 in August. And he is running for the new Saeima!
