Overview
- Evika Siliņa, who announced her resignation Thursday, stepped down after the Progressive Party withdrew support and ended her coalition’s majority.
- The crisis followed her push to remove Defence Minister Andris Sprūds after two Ukrainian drones on May 7 crossed from Russia and one struck an oil depot in Rēzekne.
- Tensions escalated when Siliņa moved to appoint military colonel Raivis Melnis as defence chief instead of a nominee from the Progressives.
- The cabinet now serves in a caretaker role under the constitution, with President Edgars Rinkēvičs set to meet all parliamentary parties on Friday to find a candidate to form a government.
- Ukraine has offered to send air‑defence experts and pursue a longer‑term “Drone Deal” to help Latvia build layered protection after drones were likely diverted by Russian electronic warfare.