Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa resigned on Thursday after her Progressives coalition partner withdrew its support during a dispute over drone incidents along the country's border with Russia.
Siliņa, a member of the liberal-conservative Unity party, told a press conference in Riga that her decision had not been taken lightly but was the correct one under the circumstances. She has been in office since September 2023.
The leftist Progressives had previously withdrawn their support and called on President Edgars Rinkēvičs to hold consultations on forming a new government after Defence Minister Andris Sprūds of the Progressives resigned on Sunday under pressure from Siliņa.
Last week, two drones that military reports suggest came from Russia crashed into an oil storage facility in the Latvian city of Rezekne. The tanks were empty, and the drones did not cause significant damage or casualties.
The airspace violation followed two previous drone incidents, heightening pressure on Sprūds, who Siliņa held responsible.
After Sprūds's resignation, Siliņa wanted to appoint Raivis Melnis, a colonel, to the post, rather than a member of the Progressives. This was met with reservation not only from the Progressives but also from parts of her other coalition partner.
"At present, political jealousy and narrow-minded party interests take precedence over responsibility," said Siliņa, who herself faced serious accusations and the threat of a motion of no confidence by the opposition.
The Progressives welcomed Siliņa's announcement, which came just under five months before the parliamentary elections.
Under the Latvian constitution, the resignation of the prime minister leads automatically to the government's resignation. Siliņa, the country's second female prime minister, and her government will continue in office in a caretaker capacity.
Agriculture Minister Armands Krauze of the Union of Greens and Farmers will not be among them, however, as he was suspended by Siliņa even before her resignation. He had previously been provisionally detained by the anti-corruption agency KNAB in connection with investigations into the timber industry.
Rinkēvičs's office said the president - who must issue a mandate to form a new government - had received Siliņa's letter of resignation and would meet with all parties represented in parliament on Friday.
Three of them have already agreed in principle to cooperate, including the Union of Greens and Farmers, which is part of Siliņa's governing coalition. However, they do not yet have a majority in parliament.
