Latvia has formed a new government just two weeks after the sudden resignation of Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, bringing a sense of urgency and change to the country’s political scene, according to ORF News.
Parliament in the capital, Riga, approved a center-right coalition led by Andris Kulbergs, a 47-year-old politician from the centrist-conservative United List alliance. The new government received solid support, with 66 members voting in favor and 25 against in the 100-seat legislature.
In his first speech to lawmakers, Kulbergs made it clear that national security would be the top priority of his government. His remarks come at a tense time for Latvia, which shares borders with both Russia and Belarus. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the country has faced several incidents involving drones entering its airspace, raising concerns about border security and defense preparedness.
Kulbergs leads a four-party coalition that includes the Union of Farmers and Greens, the National Alliance, and the liberal-conservative New Unity party, which was previously headed by Siliņa. Together, these parties hold a comfortable majority in parliament, giving the new government a strong base to act.
The leadership change follows a political crisis earlier this month. Siliņa stepped down on May 14 after losing the support of one of her coalition partners. The crisis was sparked by the resignation of Defense Minister Andris Sprūds, who came under pressure after a series of drone incidents near Latvia’s eastern border. Siliņa accused him of failing to respond effectively to the threats, a dispute that weakened her government and led to its collapse.
Kulbergs, now Latvia’s 17th prime minister since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, is relatively new to national politics, having entered parliament in 2022. Before that, he was known for his leadership of Latvia’s automobile association and his strong interest in cars.
With parliamentary elections set for early October, the new government faces the immediate challenge of restoring stability, strengthening security, and rebuilding public trust in a time of regional uncertainty.
