Latvian center-right Prime Minister Evika Silina has resigned after losing the support of the Progressives Party, her left-leaning coalition partner, leaving her without a parliamentary majority. The resignation came on Thursday, following a week of political turmoil sparked by the forced resignation of Defense Minister Andris Spruds over the government's handling of multiple incidents involving stray drones suspected to be from Ukraine entering Latvian airspace.
Drone Incidents Trigger Political Fallout
Silina had announced Spruds' dismissal on Sunday, stating that he had lost her trust and that of the public. The drone incidents, she said, "clearly demonstrated that the political leadership of the defense sector has failed to fulfill its promise of safe skies over our country." On May 7, two suspected Ukrainian drones entered Latvia, with one crashing at a fuel storage facility. Spruds had initially stated that the drones were likely targeting Russia but ended up in Latvia by mistake. Since March, multiple Ukrainian drones headed for Russia have reportedly strayed into the territories of the three Baltic states, raising concerns about regional security.
Coalition Under Strain
The tripartite coalition government, which also included an agrarian party, had been under strain for months over various issues. Silina's resignation comes just months before general elections scheduled for October. In a statement on X, Silina wrote: "My priority has always been, and remains, the well-being and security of Latvia’s people. Parties and coalitions change, but Latvia endures. And my responsibility to society comes above all else."
Next Steps
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, who is responsible for appointing a new head of government, is set to meet with representatives of all parliamentary parties on Friday to discuss the formation of a new administration.
Ukraine's Response
On Sunday, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha attributed the incidents to Russian electronic warfare, claiming that Russia deliberately diverted Ukrainian drones from their intended targets. He offered Ukraine's assistance to the Baltic states and Finland to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
