Latvian PM resigns due to split in alliance over Russian drones
The Latvian prime minister, Evika Silina, tendered her resignation on Thursday after disagreements over incidents involving drones from Ukraine led to the fall of her coalition government only months before the country holds an election in October. The political situation became more complicated when the Progressive Party of the left wing pulled its support from the current Latvian government after Silina dismissed her defence minister, Andris Spruds, who failed to deal with drones flying across Latvia from Russia.“I am resigning, but I am not giving up,” Silina said in an announcement on television.“I am resigning, but I am not giving up,” Silina said in an announcement on television.The president of Latvia, Edgars Rinkevics, will have consultations with political parties on Friday as political leaders attempt to form a new government under Latvia’s constitutional process.However, Silina’s centre-right New Unity party lost its majority in parliament following the announcement made by the Progressives party that it would be withdrawing its support on Wednesday. The issue erupted after Silina dismissed the Latvian defence minister, Andris Spruds, and appointed the Latvian army colonel, Raivis Melnis, in his place.Criticism by the prime minister regarding the country’s response to anti-drone systems in case of any breach in its borders was based on the fact that several drones were detected flying from the Russian border to Latvia.“The current prime minister does not have nine votes from the Progressives,” parliamentary leader Andris Suvajevs told reporters after meeting Silina.“Therefore, we call on President Edgars Rinkevics to begin political consultations on the formation of a new government right now,” he added.The opposition party, United List, raised pressure on the authorities through a plan to table a motion of no confidence against Silina. The party assured that it is prepared to manage the new administration.Tensions rose even more last week after the drones were detected over the Russian border and exploded over a depot of oil in Latvia. The countries later urged NATO to reinforce air defences in the Baltic states.Sybiha posted on X that it was “Russian electronic warfare deliberately diverting Ukrainian drones from their targets in Russia” that led to the drones appearing in the Latvian airspace. The expert revealed that Ukraine may consider dispatching specialists for enhancing air security in the Baltic states.