Latvia - August 2023

On 14 August, Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš unexpectedly announced his resignation after negotiations collapsed with his coalition government. The Prime Minister had pushed to expand the existing three-party ruling coalition to include the Union of Greens and Farmers and the Progressive party, in order to “regain dynamism in the work of the government.” The move was resisted by Kariņš’s coalition partners, the populist right-wing National Alliance and the United List. On 11 August, the Prime Minister collapsed the existing coalition after both partners rejected his proposal for a cabinet reshuffle. Kariņš had initially signalled that he would continue in his post before he suddenly notified President Edgars Rinkēvičs of his intention to resign along with his cabinet, and invited his centre-right New Unity party to nominate a new candidate for Prime Minister. The candidate will face a parliamentary vote of confidence and will be tasked with forming a government. Kariņš had served as Prime Minister since 2019.

Sources: Euractiv (1), Euractiv (2), LSM (1), LSM (2), Baltic News Network (1), Baltic News Network (2)