Latvia Moves to Form New Government After Coalition Collapse

(MENAFN) Edgars Rinkēvičs has asked opposition figure Andris Kulbergs to form a new government following the collapse of the ruling coalition in Latvia.

The decision came after a series of consultations with political parties on Saturday, shortly after Prime Minister Evika Siliņa resigned when the three-party governing alliance broke down.

Rinkēvičs argued that establishing a new administration would be preferable to allowing a caretaker government to remain in place until parliamentary elections scheduled in about five months.

He acknowledged the difficulty of the process, noting that political tensions remain high.

“It won’t be an easy path; it will be quite a complicated path because the political rhetoric has been heated,” he said.

He also emphasized the need to accelerate the process due to the limited time before the upcoming vote.

Kulbergs, whose United List is the largest opposition bloc in parliament, said any future government must prioritize national security, fiscal stability, and anti-corruption measures.

“This must be a coalition of action, where emotions and disputes must be put aside,” he told reporters in Riga.

He added that security spending is already allocated and should be managed responsibly.

Kulbergs has been given until May 25 to report back with coalition proposals, potential ministerial arrangements, and a draft governing program.

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