Almost two million inhabitants, partner in NATO and the EU – and direct neighbor of Russia and Belarus: Latvia is an important ally of Germany and now has a new government led by Prime Minister Silina.
Latvia has a new government. The parliament in Riga confirmed the previous welfare minister Evika Silina as the new prime minister. 53 MPs voted for the three-way alliance of the 48-year-old politician from the liberal-conservative ruling party Jauna Vienotiba – with 39 votes against.
Silina is the second head of government in the history of the Baltic EU and NATO country, which borders Russia and its ally Belarus.
“Euro-Atlantic course and support for Ukraine”
The lawyer succeeds her party colleague Krisjanis Karins, who resigned in mid-August, and who will become the new foreign minister. In her speech in parliament, Silina said the country of 1.9 million people would stick to its Euro-Atlantic course and continue to support Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia.
“As long as we have an aggressor country in our neighborhood, security will be the top priority for the Latvian government,” said Silina. After a coalition change, it is based on a three-way alliance with two opposition parties – an alliance of the farmers and the Greens and the left-wing progressives.
Narrow majority in parliament
The three parties signed a coalition agreement before the vote. Together they hold a slim majority of 52 of the 101 seats in parliament. An independent MP has also pledged his support.