© picture alliance / NurPhoto | Jonathan Raa
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa announced her resignation on social media on Thursday. The fall of her government follows a May 7 drone incident.
In the May 7 incident, two Ukrainian drones flew into Latvian airspace. When they exploded, they caused damage to an oil storage facility.
Siliņa then demanded the resignation of defense minister Andris Sprūds, who she said had failed to ensure airspace safety. After he resigned, his party, the Progressives, responded by leaving the coalition. As a result, the government lost its majority in parliament.
"My priority now, and always has been, is the welfare and safety of the Latvian people. Parties and coalitions change, but Latvia remains. And my responsibility to society is above everything," she wrote on X. "Currently, political jealousy and narrow party interests have prevailed over responsibility. (...) I led this government because people needed stability. I kept very different political forces together because my job was to make sure the country moved forward."
However, she remains decisive: "I am stepping down, but I am not giving up. And I'm not leaving."
Ukraine blames the incident on Russian electronic warfare: Moscow allegedly deliberately diverted Ukrainian drones from their course toward Latvia. President Rinkēvičs will sit down with all parties to form a new government on Friday.
Picture: © picture alliance / NurPhoto | Jonathan Raa