Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina has resigned following a political crisis triggered by stray Ukrainian drones entering Latvian airspace. According to multiple reports, the incident occurred on May 7th when two suspected Ukrainian drones crashed in eastern Latvia. One drone struck an empty oil product storage facility near the town of Rezekne, while another crashed to the ground.
Key Takeaways
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina has resigned following a political crisis triggered by stray Ukrainian drones entering Latvian airspace on May 7th. Her resignation came after her Defense Minister Andris Spruds was fired, leading to the collapse of her governing coalition.
- Latvian PM Evika Silina resigns amid political turmoil over drone incidents
- Two Ukrainian drones crashed in eastern Latvia, one hitting an empty oil storage facility near Rezekne
- Progressives party withdrew support after Defense Minister Andris Spruds was dismissed
- President Edgars Rinkevics to begin consultations on forming a new government
Silina fired Defense Minister Andris Spruds last week over his handling of the incident and appointed a replacement. However, Spruds's Progressives party withdrew their support from Silina's governing coalition in protest, causing it to collapse months before the planned general election in October. The political fallout was triggered by the incursion of three drones into Latvian airspace on May 7th, with both Latvia and Ukraine acknowledging that the drones may have been Ukrainian UAVs intended for Russia but had their signals jammed.
Local residents reported to media outlets that the official response to the incident had been delayed and insufficient. They noted that the cell broadcast alert system was not activated for an hour after one of the drones crashed near Rezekne. Silina stated, "Something went wrong. We cannot afford for this situation to continue." She also mentioned that Spruds's resignation was due to broader issues in the Latvian defense sector.
President Edgars Rinkevics announced he would take a decision on the 'quickest possible formation' of a new government on May 15th. Silina, who became prime minister in September 2023, has been steadfast in her support for Ukraine against Russia. Latvia has significantly accelerated its defense capabilities and reintroduced compulsory military service due to concerns over potential Russian aggression.
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