Latvia's centre-right Prime Minister Evika Silina announced her resignation on Thursday, triggering the collapse of her coalition government just months before the October general election. Her New Unity party lost its parliamentary majority after the left-wing Progressives party withdrew its support on Wednesday.
Defence Minister Dismissal Sparks Crisis
The Progressives' decision came after the dismissal of their Defence Minister, Andris Spruds, over the slow deployment of anti-drone systems. This followed incidents where Ukrainian drones strayed into Latvian airspace from Russia, raising national security concerns.
Political Fallout
President Edgars Rinkevics is scheduled to meet with all parliamentary parties on Friday to begin consultations on forming a new government. The opposition United List party has indicated it will initiate a vote of no confidence in Silina and is prepared to lead the next administration.
The resignation marks a significant political upheaval in Latvia, with the coalition government unable to maintain stability ahead of the election. The drone incidents have highlighted vulnerabilities in Latvia's air defence capabilities and triggered a political crisis that could reshape the country's leadership.
