Премьер-министр Эвика Силиня
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina stated that if the Progressive Party exits the ruling coalition, the country may transition to a technical government format.
The head of government made this statement in an interview with the TV3 program “900 Seconds,” commenting on the situation following the unexpected resignation of Defense Minister Andris Spruds.
Silina acknowledged that negotiations with the Progressives have effectively collapsed.
According to the Prime Minister, representatives of the party did not attend the Sunday meeting, which prevented her from discussing a possible candidate for the position of Defense Minister with them.
“I didn’t offer them anything because I couldn’t even discuss it with them,” Silina stated.
She also reported that Spruds had not contacted her since announcing his resignation.
The political crisis erupted after a series of incidents involving drones in Latgale, including cases of drones crashing that came from the direction of Russia.
Silina stated that she has lost trust in the Defense Minister and believes it is necessary to strengthen professional leadership in the sector.
The Prime Minister has already proposed Colonel Raivis Melnis for the ministerial position, who has agreed to take the role. However, Silina admits that she is not yet sure if there will be enough votes in the Saeima for his approval.
It is important to understand: if the coalition ultimately collapses, the government may continue to operate in a technical mode — that is, without a stable parliamentary majority and with limited political capabilities.
The Prime Minister is currently avoiding negotiations with the opposition and emphasizes that she wanted to discuss the situation within the coalition first.
Currently, the only stable partner for “New Unity” remains the Union of Greens and Farmers.
The Union of Greens and Farmers has already stated that the situation regarding the country’s defense requires a “calm and professional approach.” On Monday, party representatives plan to meet with President Edgars Rinkēvičs to discuss further actions.
Meanwhile, Andris Spruds explained his resignation by expressing a desire to take political responsibility and to prevent the military from being drawn into a political conflict.
At the same time, an investigation into the actions of the National Armed Forces following the drone incidents is ongoing, along with discussions on strengthening the air defense system on the eastern border.
The situation surrounding the Ministry of Defense has become one of the most serious political crises for the current coalition in recent times.