Pilens leads Levits in popularity ranking but even more respondents would favor a third presidential candidate - poll

  • 2023-04-27
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - The United List's presidential nominee Uldis Pilens is currently more popular than incumbent President Egils Levits, but an even higher number of the surveyed citizens would favor a third presidential candidate, shows an SKDS poll conducted on behalf of Kas Notiek Latvija? (What's Going On In Latvia?) program of Latvian Television. 

In the poll, 33.8 percent of respondents voiced support for Pilens, while 14.5 percent supported Levits whose reelection is backed by New Unity and the National Alliance. Meanwhile, 36 percent of respondents supported neither Levits nor Pilens and said that they would like someone else to become the next president of Latvia. As many as 15.7 percent of the surveyed people were undecided about their preferences. 

Of the respondents that would vote for the United List if the Saeima elections were tomorrow, 85 percent supported Pilens' candidacy. Pilens would also received 63 percent of votes from the electorate of Ainars Slesers' Latvia First Party and 42 percent of votes from the electorate of the Union of Greens and Farmers. 

Levits would receive 55 percent of votes from New Unity's electorate and 40 percent of votes from the National Alliance's supporters. 

The Saeima is due to elect the next president of Latvia on May 31. Pilens and Levits are so far the only candidates to announce their bid for the Latvian presidency. 

SKDS market and public opinion research center conducted the poll from April 17 to 21, interviewing 1,005 respondents in all Latvia.