Latvia’s parliament confirmed Andris Kulbergs as prime minister, approving a new coalition government after the previous government collapsed. The collapse followed disputes over how the government handled stray drone incidents suspected to be from Ukraine entering Latvian territory. Evika Silina resigned after a coalition partner withdrew support and after Defence Minister Andris Spruds was forced to resign over the handling of multiple drone incidents. Silina said Spruds failed to deploy anti-drone defenses quickly enough to counter two wayward attack drones, which were thought to have been knocked off course by Russian jamming. The drones caused minimal damage but raised widespread concern in Latvia, a NATO and EU member. Kulbergs stated that government duties include external, economic, and energy security, as well as public sense of security.
"Latvia's parliament has approved a new coalition government that will lead the European Union and NATO member country in the coming months after its predecessor collapsed following an argument over its handling of stray drones suspected to be from Ukraine. By a margin of 66 deputies in the 100-seat assembly, lawmakers on Thursday confirmed 47-year-old centrist Andris Kulbergs as prime minister, who will lead the Baltic nation of more than 1.8 million people until parliamentary elections on October 3."
"Evika Silina resigned in mid-May after one of her coalition partners withdrew its support and left her without a majority. She quit after Defence Minister Andris Spruds, a member of the Progressives Party, was forced to resign over the government's handling of multiple incidents involving stray drones suspected to be from Ukraine crossing into Latvian territory. Silina accused the minister of not deploying anti-drone defences fast enough to parry two wayward Ukraine attack drones, which are thought to have been knocked off course by Russian jamming."
"The drones caused minimal damage but sparked widespread concern in the former Soviet republic, which is now a member of NATO and the EU. Earlier this month, President Edgars Rinkevics backed opposition lawmaker Kulbergs to replace Silina for the top job of prime minister. The duty of the government is to ensure Latvia's security in the broadest sense."
"That means guaranteeing the external security of the state, economic security, energy security, but also people's sense of security in their own country, Kulbergs said in a speech in the run-up to Thursday's parliamentary vote. He also confirmed outgoing foreign minister Baiba Braze wou"
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