Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina resigns as coalition collapses over drone defence crisis

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina has formally resigned after her coalition government lost its parliamentary majority, a collapse triggered by the withdrawal of support from the left-wing Progressive party. The political crisis erupted following the dismissal of former Defence Minister Andris Spruds, a member of the Progressives, over the handling of stray Ukrainian drones that entered Latvian airspace from Russia. Silina, who has assumed interim defence duties, stated in a televised address that she was resigning but not giving up, while accusing political opponents of prioritising narrow party interests over national security.

The breakdown of the three-party coalition occurred on Wednesday when the Progressives announced they were withdrawing their backing. The government had relied on a slim majority, with Silina’s centre-right New Unity party holding 25 seats, the agrarian ZZS Union of Greens and Farmers holding 16, and the Progressives holding nine. The removal of Spruds, whom Silina forced to resign for failing to deploy drone defence systems quickly enough, was the immediate catalyst for the Progressive party’s exit. The Progressives argued that Silina was scapegoating Spruds for wider systemic failings in the country’s air defence infrastructure.

Tensions within the coalition had been building over various policy issues prior to the drone incidents. However, the situation escalated when several Ukrainian drones, targeting Russian oil facilities near the border, strayed into Latvian territory. Defence systems designed to scramble navigation can sometimes cause vehicles to deviate from their intended paths. One of the incidents resulted in a fire at a disused oil storage site in eastern Latvia, raising serious questions about the nation’s defence readiness and its ability to manage spillover from the conflict in Ukraine.

In her resignation statement, Silina blamed political jealousy for the crisis, asserting that a strong and professional candidate for the post of Minister of Defense was available but ignored by opponents who chose crisis over solution. She emphasised that her priority had always been the well-being and security of the people of Latvia, noting that while parties and coalitions change, the country remains. Silina, a member of the New Unity party, described her tenure as an effort to hold together very different political forces to ensure the country moved forward.

The Latvian constitution mandates that President Edgar Rinkevics consult with parliamentary parties to determine who can form a new government. Rinkevics is scheduled to meet with representatives of all parliamentary parties on Friday to begin these consultations. General elections are already scheduled for October this year, and the government’s collapse appears to have accelerated the political timeline, effectively firing an early starting pistol for the upcoming campaign. The specific outcome of these consultations remains uncertain, though a new government must be formed before the scheduled vote.