Latvia parliament approves new government after drone row topples coalition
Janis Laizans and Andrius Sytas
RIGA, May 28 (Reuters) – The parliament of NATO and EU member Latvia approved the formation of a new government on Thursday, making center-right opposition lawmaker Andris Kulbergs prime minister four months before the next election, following the latest drone strikes that collapsed the ruling coalition.
Of the 96 votes cast in the Saeima, 66 supported the center-right four-party majority coalition consisting of the Kulbergs’ Joint List, former Prime Minister Evika Silina’s New Unity Party, the National Alliance and the Greens and Farmers’ Union.
In a joint statement, the four parties vowed to continue the previous government’s support for Ukraine and focus on national security and “implement measures to weaken and isolate Russia.”
“Nothing has changed in terms of Russia and Ukraine,” Kulbergs said at a press conference shortly after the vote.
“We will be strong and speak out loud that the EU must support the defense of the eastern front, this is a top priority for us,” he added.
ELECTION IN OCTOBER
Security is high on the new government’s list of priorities, including Latvia’s borders, the economy and energy, he told parliament.
“People will tell us very quickly whether we are doing a good or a bad job; October 3 (general elections) will be the decision of this government,” Kulbergs said.
The new government said that an important priority would be “holding the elections safely”.
In the cabinet, Baiba Braze remained as foreign minister, Maris Kucinskis became finance minister and Colonel Raivis Melnis became defense minister.
The Progressives Party, which was part of Silina’s outgoing coalition, remained outside the new government and moved the cabinet further to the right.
FUEL VOLTAGE OF DRONES
But the Baltic states remain steadfast in their support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, and Latvia’s elections in October are only expected to strengthen Riga’s resolve.
Armed Ukrainian drones entering the Baltic region’s airspace are raising concerns that the war in Ukraine has spread to NATO’s northern borders with Russia, forcing people to seek shelter and schools and kindergartens to close due to alarms.
On May 7, when a Ukrainian drone struck an empty oil tank in Latvia, Silina dismissed the defense minister for saying the military’s defensive measures were inadequate, leading to the collapse of his coalition.
The incidents increased tensions between Moscow and the Baltic states, which accused Russia of electronically guiding the drones; The Kremlin accused them of facilitating the expulsion of Ukraine from its territory, which they denied.
(Reporting by Janis Laizans in Riga and Andrius Sytas in Vilnius, writing by Anna Ringstrom, editing by Terje Solsvik, Nick Zieminski and Keith Weir)
