Latvian PM claims poll victory

Latvian Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis has declared victory in a parliamentary election after a second exit poll gave his centre-right coalition a commanding lead in the vote.

Latvia joined the European Union (EU) in 2004 and if the result is confirmed, the Government will be able to continue its pro-EU policies and drive to adopt the euro as soon as possible.

The Latvian TV poll, which confirms an earlier exit poll, shows Mr Kalvitis's ruling People's Party and its partners, the Greens, the Farmers Union and Latvia's First Party, has 43.3 per cent of the vote.

Analysts say the result indicates those four parties will be likely to return to power with another party joining the coalition.

They say it is also probable that opposition centre-right party New Era will join the Government.

According to the exit poll, it won 14.6 per cent of the vote.

Earlier, voting at a coastal town, Mr Kalvitis pledged to continue the Government's market-orientated, low tax policies which have helped the ex-Soviet state become one of the EU's fastest-growing economies.

Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 12 per cent in the first half of 2006.

If translated into seats, the exit poll result would win the coalition around 45 seats in the 100-seat parliament, compared with the 46 seats the minority coalition has now.

- Reuters