Latvians went to the polls today after enduring the sharpest recession in the EU, and their verdict could determine the country's commitment to its IMF-led austerity programme and the goal of euro entry in 2014.
Before the election for the 100-seat parliament, opinion polls suggested the centre-right coalition under prime minister Valdis Dombrovskis had a chance of returning to power, probably safeguarding the austerity plan that came with a €7.5 billion bailout agreed at the end of 2008.
But an opposition party with strong support among the large Russian minority hopes anger over the crisis will secure it the largest share of the vote and a place in government for the first time since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union.
The Harmony Centre party has said it would seek revisions to the loan deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union (EU). It also raised the prospect of seeking funds and investment from countries like China and Russia.
Critics say the party would bring greater Russian influence in Latvia, a European Union and NATO state since 2004. Harmony denies this.
Voting began at 7am and ends at 8pm.
"I went to vote so that things will change and pensions will not be cut," said pensioner Pavils Salna in the centre of capital city Riga. He said he backed Mr Dombrovskis.
Fellow pensioner Solveiga Zhvirble said she voted for Mr Dombrovskis's coalition partner, the Union of Greens and Farmers. "I voted for young people and I crossed out (on the ballot slip) all the old ones who have been there too long."
The coalition is a minority government but an opinion poll on Monday showed it could return as a majority, with the Unity bloc led by Mr Dombrovskis as the biggest party.
Mr Dombrovskis wants to reform the current government with the Union of Greens and Farmers party and the Everything for Latvia/For Fatherland and Freedom bloc.
Reuters