Riga City Council Approval Dips, Politician Ratings Fall

Public approval for the Riga City Council's performance has worsened in the past six months, according to a survey commissioned by the council itself. The research center SKDS found that resident satisfaction with the council's work fell from a rating of minus 0.9 in November to minus 4.6 in May. Overall, 46% of surveyed Riga residents viewed the council's work negatively, while 43% rated it positively.

Significant differences emerged in how citizens and non-citizens evaluated the council's performance. Citizens rated the council's work more favorably in May, with a citizen evaluation index of plus 0.1, compared to non-citizens at minus 26.6. Younger respondents aged 18 to 34, those with higher education, families primarily speaking Latvian at home, public sector employees, and individuals with medium-high to high incomes, as well as residents of Vidzeme, Kurzeme, and Zemgale suburbs, tended to view the council's work more positively. Conversely, respondents aged 45 and older, those with basic or secondary education, Russian speakers, private sector employees, and residents of Latgale and Ziemeļu districts were more critical.

The survey, conducted in May, involved in-person interviews with 804 Riga residents aged 18 to 75. The findings also indicate a decline in the popularity of most leading politicians on the Riga City Council during the first half of the year. Only three politicians saw their popularity increase between November and May. The most significant drop was experienced by Marta Kotello, head of the Riga City Council's Outdoor Spaces and Mobility Committee, whose rating fell from 2.4 to minus 11.3, making her the council leader with the lowest rating. Other officials, including Girts Lapiņš and Deputy Mayor Edvards Ratnieks, also saw substantial decreases in their approval ratings.