Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa announces shock resignation

By Angela Skujins Published on 14/05/2026 - 10:53 GMT+2•Updated 11:31 Share Comments Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa announced on Thursday she will resign, triggering the collapse of the country's governing coalition ahead of key October parliamentary elections.

Latvia's centre-right ​Prime ‌Minister Evika Siliņa announced on Thursday she will resign from the top job following coalition controversy and a drone incident, effectively triggering the collapse of the country's governing alliance.

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"Today, I have made the difficult but honest decision – to step down from the position of Prime Minister," Siliņa stated in a post on social media platform X. The comments mirrored a televised address.

She said her priorities have always been Latvia's security and people, but "political envy and narrow party interests" have taken precedence over responsibility.

Siliņa's resignation means the de facto collapse of the governing tripartite coalition, which has been under strain for months.

The most recent controversy surrounds the resignation of the Baltic nation's left-leaning defence minister Andris Sprūds. He left the position following calls from Siliņa to do so, and after Latvia's air defences were breached by Ukrainian drones diverted from Russia.

Sprūds' Progressives Party pulled support from the government as a result, leaving Siliņa of the Unity Party without a majority.

Latvia is set to face parliamentary elections in October.

The country's President Edgars Rinkevics, tasked with appointing a new head of government, is set to meet with representatives of all parliamentary parties on Friday.

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