Resigned Defence Minister Andris Spruds will return to work in the Saeima. Until a new head of the Ministry of Defence is appointed, the duties of the minister will be temporarily performed by Prime Minister Evika Silina.
The political crisis surrounding the Ministry of Defence continues to unfold.
After stepping down, Defence Minister Andris Spruds will return to work in the Saeima, confirmed the Ministry of Defence.
The agency reported that the Prime Minister's order to relieve Spruds of his duties has already been received.
According to the law, he will continue to perform the duties of the minister until May 11 inclusive.
Starting from May 12, the Ministry of Defence will temporarily come under the leadership of Prime Minister Evika Silina.
This decision will remain in effect until further political agreements are reached.
Spruds' resignation has become one of the most high-profile political events in Latvia in recent days.
The crisis erupted after incidents involving drones in Latgale and subsequent criticism of the defense system's performance.
Silina stated that she had lost confidence in the minister and emphasized that the sector requires more professional leadership.
Almost simultaneously with the call for resignation, the Prime Minister already offered the post of Minister of Defence to Colonel Raivis Melnis.
Spruds himself explained his decision as a desire to take political responsibility and to prevent the army from being drawn into political conflicts.
However, the situation quickly escalated into a broader coalition crisis.
On Monday morning, the Prime Minister stated that Spruds had not contacted her personally regarding his resignation.
Later, a scheduled meeting between them was also canceled.
For its part, the Progressive party accuses Silina of making decisions without proper discussion within the coalition.
Co-chair of the party Andris Shuvaev claims that representatives of the Progressives tried to contact the Prime Minister even before Spruds' resignation, but their appeals were ignored.
According to Shuvaev, many public statements from the Prime Minister were prepared in advance.
Now the future of the coalition remains in question.
On Monday, the board and faction of the Progressives are to decide on further actions.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence continues to assess the actions of the National Armed Forces following the drone incidents, as well as working to strengthen air defense.
In light of the events surrounding the Ministry of Defence, the issue of national security has effectively become the central theme of Latvian politics.
