Latvian President tasks opposition with forming government after defence crisis
Andris Kulbergs of the United List has been given 10 days to assemble an enlarged coalition, as President Edgars Rinkevics signals a shift to opposition leadership amid security failures.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics has formally asked opposition lawmaker Andris Kulbergs to form a new government, marking a significant shift in the country’s political landscape following the resignation of Prime Minister Evika Silina. The appointment comes after Silina’s coalition partner, The Progressives party, withdrew its support, leaving the administration without a parliamentary majority.
Silina announced her resignation on Thursday, citing the dismissal of Defence Minister Andris Spruds as the catalyst for the political crisis. The defence minister was removed from office after Ukrainian drones entered Latvian airspace from Russia and detonated at an oil storage facility. Silina stated that the incident demonstrated a failure by the political leadership of the defence sector to ensure safe skies, a sentiment that ultimately eroded the confidence of her coalition partners.
President Rinkevics, who met with representatives from all parliamentary parties before making his decision, told a news conference that recent events justified selecting a new prime minister from the opposition. “Considering recent events, I think the new prime minister should come from opposition parties,” Rinkevics said. The President’s choice falls to Kulbergs, leader of the United List, which currently holds the position of the largest opposition bloc in parliament.
Kulbergs confirmed he has been granted a 10-day deadline to form an enlarged coalition. He indicated that his objective is to establish a governing body capable of administering Latvia until the scheduled parliamentary elections on October 3. Any cabinet proposed by Kulbergs must subsequently secure approval from the parliament, a process that remains uncertain given the fragmented nature of the current political landscape.
The security incident that precipitated these political changes occurred on May 7, when two Ukrainian drones flew over from Russian territory. One drone crashed into a petrol depot in eastern Latvia, causing a fire that was quickly contained. This event is part of a broader pattern of drone incursions affecting NATO members Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. In response to the security concerns, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pledged during a summit in Romania on Wednesday to send experts to Latvia to assist with improvements to its air defence capabilities.
Silina, who has served as prime minister since 2023, stated in a televised address that while she was resigning, she was not giving up. The transition of power now rests with Kulbergs, who must navigate the complex task of building a stable coalition within the tight timeframe set by the President, all while the country contends with ongoing regional security challenges.
