Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina Resigns Amid Government Crisis
Evika Silina Steps Down as Prime Minister
File image of Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina(Photo: @GlobalPeaceA0/X)
Riga, May 14: Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina announced her resignation on Thursday, stating it was the "right decision in this situation." The government will remain operational until new ministers are appointed, according to local news sources.
The President of Latvia has acknowledged Silina's resignation, and discussions regarding the formation of a new government will take place with Saeima faction representatives at Riga Castle on Friday, as reported by local media.
Silina's departure signifies the collapse of the Latvian government, which had already begun to unravel on Wednesday when the coalition party Progressives withdrew its support.
She expressed, "Currently, political rivalry and narrow party interests have overshadowed accountability. With a strong candidate for the defense minister position [Colonel Raivis Melnis, whom she nominated to replace the resigned Progressives' minister Andris Spruds], political opportunists have opted for a government crisis. Thus, I am announcing my resignation. This decision is challenging, but it is the right one given the circumstances."
Earlier on Wednesday, Latvia's Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis (New Unity) indicated that Silina had no intention of resigning. However, Andris Suvajevs, leader of the Progressives parliamentary faction, warned on Thursday that the government would collapse if a no-confidence vote against Silina occurred in the Saeima that day.
Last week, Andris Spruds, the Latvian Defence Minister, resigned after Ukrainian drones breached the country's airspace from Russia and struck an oil storage facility, as reported by Politico.
On May 10, Prime Minister Silina requested Spruds' resignation, citing that it "demonstrated the failure of political leadership in ensuring safe skies over our nation."
"Defence Minister Andris Spruds has lost my trust and that of the public. I have decided to demand his resignation. The defense sector must now be led by a professional. Today, I informed the minister and coalition partners of this decision. The drone incident this week clearly showed that the political leadership of the defense sector has not fulfilled its promise of safe skies. The public has entrusted this sector with unprecedented funding—nearly 5 percent of GDP. This is a significant responsibility that requires tangible results," Silina stated on X.
"I believe the sector needs a new, professional approach. I have invited Colonel Raivis Melnis to assume the role of defense minister, and he has accepted. His extensive experience in the National Armed Forces, military education in London, and current involvement in Ukraine assure me that the country's defense will be managed competently and purposefully, beyond mere political rhetoric. The safety of our nation and its citizens is paramount," she added.