Survey: 46.9% of residents oppose Latvia's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention

A recent survey reveals that a significant portion of Latvia's population, nearly half, opposes the country's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention. The poll found that 46.9% of residents do not support Latvia leaving the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.

The study, commissioned by "Delfi" and LSM and conducted by the research company SKDS, indicates that support for remaining a signatory to the convention is strongest among voters for the "New Unity" (JV) and "Progressives" parties. Conversely, a majority of potential voters for "Sovereign Power/Union of Latvians" view the convention as denotable.

When asked about their stance on Latvia's participation in the Istanbul Convention, 35.6% of respondents favored remaining a member state, while 46.9% advocated for withdrawal (denunciation). Another 17.5% found it difficult to answer. The survey also highlighted demographic differences, with women more inclined to oppose denunciation (50.6%) compared to men, where opinions were more divided.

Further analysis by education level showed that 53.5% of respondents with higher education do not support withdrawal, while 30.5% believe it should be denounced. Among those with primary education, 49.3% think Latvia should remain a party to the convention. The survey was conducted from July 10-15 and included 1205 permanent residents of Latvia aged 18 to 75.