On May 28, Latvia’s Parliament confirmed the government led by Andris Kulbergs, which will serve until the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 3.
The new government is a coalition formed by the United List, New Unity, the Union of Greens and Farmers, and the National Alliance. This coalition is characterized as more national-conservative, reflecting traditional values upheld by its member parties.
In his address to Parliament, Prime Minister Kulbergs emphasized the government’s responsibility to ensure Latvia’s security—covering external, economic, and energy aspects, as well as the safety of its citizens. He expressed a desire for his administration to be remembered for its “speed and accountability.”
“Without security, there can be no economy, and without an economy, there can be no security. A good example of this is Ukraine, a country that continues to produce, innovate, and export even amid war. There is much to learn from this,” Kulbergs stated.
On May 14, former Prime Minister Evika Silina submitted her resignation to the Parliament, after which the entire government continued to function in a caretaker capacity.
Background Events
The political shift follows a series of incidents, including an airspace violation by unidentified drones from Russia on May 7. Latvia’s air force reported the downing of two drones, prompting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon the temporary chargé d’affaires from Russia to deliver a formal protest.
In the wake of these events, Defense Minister Andris Spruds resigned on May 10. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis from the New Unity party indicated on May 13 that Silina did not intend to resign due to the drone incident, despite growing parliamentary support for a potential vote of no confidence against the government.
The opposition sought to expedite the resignation process using a procedural mechanism that would allow for a vote without the standard five-day waiting period. This strategy aimed to capitalize on one of the proposals regarding Silina that had been tabled during an unfinished session on May 7.
However, on the morning of the vote, Silina requested a one-hour recess until 10:00 AM. When the session resumed, the Speaker of Parliament did not provide any explanation for the break. Silina subsequently canceled her scheduled address and held a press conference in the Cabinet of Ministers, where she announced her resignation.
Latvia's Parliament has approved a new government under Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, set to serve until the upcoming elections in October. This transition follows the resignation of former Prime Minister Evika Silina amid rising political tensions and security concerns in the region.