Latvian Prime Minister resigns over handling of Ukrainian drone incidents
Political Crisis and Government Collapse in Latvia
By Andrius Sytas and Janis Laizans
Resignation of Prime Minister Evika Silina
May 14 (Reuters) - Latvia's centre-right Prime Minister Evika Silina said on Thursday she had resigned, triggering the collapse of her coalition government just months before an election due in October.
"I am resigning, but I am not giving up," Silina, who has been prime minister since 2023, said in a televised statement.
Transition and Next Steps
Silina's government will stay on as caretaker until a replacement is sworn in. Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, who is tasked by the constitution to select a leader of the government, will meet all parliamentary parties on Friday.
Drone Incidents and Political Fallout
Silina fired Defence Minister Andris Spruds at the weekend, after two stray Ukrainian drones flew into Latvia from Russia and exploded at an oil storage facility, the latest in a string of such incidents in NATO members Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.
Security Lapses and Accountability
The drones were not detected by the Latvian Army as they flew in from Russia, the army's head said, and Silina blamed Spruds for not having developed anti-drone systems fast enough.
Coalition Breakdown
In response, Spruds' Progressives party withdrew its support from Silina's government on Wednesday, leaving her without a majority in parliament and vulnerable to a potential no-confidence motion.
Background and Political Landscape
Silina came to power at the head of a broad coalition after the resignation of Krisjanis Karins, also from her centre-right New Unity party, in August 2023.
Opinion Polls and Party Popularity
In a SKDS/LSM opinion poll last month, Progressives ranked as the second most popular party nationally with 6.9% voter approval, ahead of New Unity, which was sixth with 5.9% voter approval.
Opposition Latvia First party topped the poll, with 8.9% approval. The poll showed 26.1% of voters undecided, with 16.2% saying they didn't intend to vote.
International Response
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday that Ukraine would send experts to Latvia to help protect the country's skies.
(Reporting by Janis Laizans and Andrius Sytas; Editing by Aidan Lewis)
