In a dramatic move, she dismissed Defence Minister Andris Spruds, arguing that the problems extended beyond the drone incident itself and reflected broader weaknesses within Latvia’s defence sector.
However, the decision immediately backfired politically.
Spruds’ party, the Progressives, reacted angrily to his dismissal and announced it was pulling its support from Silina’s governing coalition. Without their backing, the coalition collapsed only months before Latvia’s next general election scheduled for October.
On Thursday, Silina officially announced her resignation but insisted she was not abandoning politics.
“Seeing a strong candidate for the post of defence minister, political windbags have chosen a crisis,” she declared during a tense public statement. “I am resigning, but I am not giving up.”
The political crisis has highlighted growing fears in Latvia and across the Baltic region over security threats linked to the war between Russia and Ukraine.
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