Evika Siliņa Resigns After Progressives Reject Defense Minister Dismissal Over Drone Incursion

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa announced her resignation on Thursday after her left-wing coalition partner, the Progressives, refused to support her dismissal of the country’s defence minister, Andris Sprūds, over a recent drone incident.

“Latvian centre-right Prime Minister Evika Silina has announced her resignation after the Progressives Party, her left-leaning coalition partner, pulled support from the government and left her without a majority”

Al Jazeera

The dispute followed Siliņa firing Sprūds after two drones crashed into eastern Latvia on May 7, causing some damage but no casualties, and she then appointed a replacement, Raivis Melnis.

Al Jazeera

The BBC reported Siliņa said, “Seeing a strong candidate for the post of defense minister ... political windbags have chosen a crisis,” as the political fallout left her without a majority in the parliament.

The BBC also said the incursion involved three drones into Latvian airspace on 7 May, with one drone striking an empty oil product storage facility near the town of Rezekne and the third flying in and out of Latvian airspace.

AP reported that Siliņa’s resignation came after Spruds was forced to resign last week over the government’s handling of multiple incidents involving stray drones suspected to be from Ukraine crossing into Latvian territory.

Siliņa framed the crisis as a political failure, telling the BBC, “I am resigning but I am not giving up,” after the Progressives pulled their support and left her government without a parliamentary majority.

POLITICO.eu reported that Siliņa said, “At this moment, political jealousy and narrow party interests have taken precedence over responsibility,” as she described the row over firing Sprūds after two stray Ukrainian drones hit the Baltic state’s oil facilities.

AP News

Le Monde reported that Spruds’s sacking prompted nine of his allies, fellow members of the Progressive party, to quit Siliņa’s ruling coalition, alleging she had made him a scapegoat.

Le Monde also said the withdrawal left her government with just 41 seats in the 100-seat parliament, and opposition parties said they would call a vote of confidence.

The BBC reported that President Edgars Rinkevics said he would take a decision on the “quickest possible formation” of a new government on 15 May.

President Edgars Rinkēvičs is set to meet with leaders of parliamentary parties on Friday as Latvia searches for a new majority to rule the country until the election.

“Latvian PM resigns after row over stray Ukrainian drones Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina has resigned following a political crisis over Russia-bound Ukrainian drones straying into Latvian territory”

BBC

The Guardian’s Europe live coverage said Rinkēvičs told the public, “Latvia cannot afford political uncertainty and instability,” as the crisis deepened and further talks on an interim government were expected shortly.

DW reported that the incidents raised questions about Latvia’s defense readiness, with one stray drone causing a fire at a disused oil storage site in eastern Latvia and Siliņa saying anti-drone systems had not been deployed quickly enough to counter the drone intrusions.

BBC said there were no casualties or injuries from the drone incursions, but local residents told media that the cell broadcast alert system had not been activated for an hour after one of the drones crashed near Rezekne.

AP reported that Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha offered help to the Baltic states and Finland, saying the incidents in Latvia were “the result of Russian electronic warfare deliberately diverting Ukrainian drones from their targets in Russia.”