Latvian Prime Minister Resigns After Losing Coalition Support

"I am stepping down, but not giving up." — Evika Siliņa

RIGA, Latvia — Prime Minister Evika Siliņa announced her resignation on Thursday after her coalition partner, The Progressives party, withdrew its backing from the government.

The move follows Siliņa's decision to dismiss Defence Minister Andris Sprūds over his handling of recent drone incursions into Latvian airspace. The Progressives declined to support her proposed replacement, Raivis Melnis, leaving the government without a parliamentary majority.

What Happened

The resignation leaves Latvia's government in limbo just months ahead of scheduled October parliamentary elections. President Edgars Rinkēvičs will meet with party leaders on Friday to discuss the next steps, including the formation of a new government or an interim administration.

"Latvia cannot afford political uncertainty and instability," President Rinkēvičs said in a statement following the announcement.

Background: Drone Incursions

The crisis stems from a series of security incidents involving Ukrainian drones that strayed into Latvian airspace from Russia in recent months.

• On 7 May, two drones exploded at an oil storage facility in Latvia.
• Siliņa stated that the defence minister had lost her trust due to a failure to ensure adequate detection and response to such drones.
• The Progressives rejected the proposed replacement, leading to the coalition's collapse.

Key Reactions

"Latvia cannot afford political uncertainty and instability."
— President Edgars Rinkēvičs

Siliņa, in her resignation announcement, hinted at future political ambitions, stating she is "stepping down, but not giving up."

The country now faces a critical period of political negotiation as leaders scramble to restore stability before the October vote.