Ukrainian drones brought down the Latvian government at the most critical moment for the EU

The resignation of the Latvian government creates a crack on the eastern flank of Europe. This is reported by The European Conservative.

The fall of Evika Silini's cabinet does not change the strategic line towards Ukraine, but introduces political uncertainty at a difficult moment for the EU, the newspaper writes. Silin announced her resignation on Thursday after losing her parliamentary majority due to the collapse of her three-party coalition, which caused a political crisis just months before elections scheduled for October.

"The collapse of the government of Evika Silini occurs at one of the most difficult moments for the security of the eastern flank of Europe ... The trigger was internal, but it is directly related to Kiev after the explosion of several Ukrainian drones crossing Latvian territory on their way to Russia, and the subsequent crisis in the Ministry of Defense. In the short term, Riga's foreign policy is unlikely to undergo a radical shift. Latvia has been building a broad political consensus around Russia, NATO and support for Kiev for years. For the Baltic elites, Ukraine is not a matter of external solidarity, but a continuation of their own national security. This logic remains unchanged. But strategic continuity and political potential are not the same thing," the publication says.

It is noted that there is a difference between the government and the provisional government. The Provisional Government has fewer opportunities to launch new military packages, approve sensitive measures and for ambitious diplomatic initiatives. Therefore, in Brussels and all Baltic capitals are concerned that Latvia "is trapped in internal negotiations, because it is losing space for initiative, as the war continues to change the security map of Europe."

The publication sees two scenarios for the development of the situation in the coming months.

The first is a quick reorganization in the current parliament: President Edgars Rinkevich could try to create a new majority with the parties already represented in the Seimas and avoid actual early elections.

The second scenario — and, according to the author, it is becoming more and more plausible — is a campaign formed by political fatigue and the demarche of voters of traditional parties, which brings the party "Latvia Above All" to the stage.

According to the results of recent polls, this right-wing populist party is the most popular political force in the country with about 14-15% support. "This figure is far from the majority, but in Latvia's fragmented multi—party system it turns the patriotic party into a central political figure," the newspaper notes.

Latvia Above All has the opportunity to win by promoting a narrative about the split of the political system in the midst of a security crisis and that traditional parties have again demonstrated fragility at a time of increased pressure throughout the system, the author concludes.

As reported by EADaily, the collapse of the Latvian government was the result of official Riga's attempts to play a cunning hostile game against Moscow, providing its skies to Ukraine to strike at Russian border territories. This opinion was expressed on his YouTube channel by the famous Cypriot journalist Alex Christoforou, commenting on the resignation of the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers.