Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa announced the official resignation of her entire Cabinet on Thursday, May 14. This decision follows the collapse of the governing coalition and a significant corruption scandal within the administration. Furthermore, political stability declined following recent security breaches involving Russian drones entering Latvian territory.
LSM reported that the political crisis intensified after the liberal “Progressives” party withdrew its support for the Prime Minister.
Siliņa submitted her resignation to the Saeima and criticized her partners for avoiding responsibility during a difficult period for the state.
“Today I took a difficult but honest decision – to resign from the post of Prime Minister… I thank everyone who trusted me, cooperated, and also reasonably criticized. I am resigning, but I am not giving up. And I am not leaving,” she stated during a press briefing.
Consequently, corruption investigations in the timber industry accelerated the government’s downfall. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (KNAB) detained Agriculture Minister Armands Krauze and Head of the State Chancellery Raivis Kronbergs. According to Delfi, Siliņa dismissed Krauze immediately before her own resignation announcement. Meanwhile, the opposition planned to force a no-confidence vote using specific parliamentary procedures to bypass the standard five-day waiting period. This pressure forced the Prime Minister to act preemptively by holding a separate conference at the government building instead of addressing the Saeima.
Security crisis and Russian drones
In early May, two Russian drones violated Latvian airspace and crashed near the town of Rēzekne. One of the devices hit an oil depot located 40 kilometers from the Russian border. Reports later confirmed that the drones appeared due to the activity of Russian electronic warfare systems. Consequently, Defense Minister Andris Sprūds resigned on May 11, accepting responsibility for the delayed deployment of anti-drone defense systems.
Therefore, President Edgars Rinkēvičs will now begin urgent consultations with all parliamentary factions. The head of state emphasized that Latvia cannot afford a political vacuum or destabilization during the ongoing full-scale war in the region. The current Cabinet will serve as a caretaker government until the Saeima approves a new administration. The President expects political forces to present clear priorities for national security and defense before the next elections.
Previously, The Ukrainian Review reported that two drones crashed in Latvia near the Rēzekne oil depot.
