Latvia forms new government after institutional crisis

Latvia has a new government, formed by a four-party coalition and led by centrist Andris Kulbergs, just two weeks after the previous administration collapsed. The political upheaval followed a series of drone incursions that highlighted vulnerabilities in the Baltic nation's defense capabilities, especially in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The new government secured the support of 66 lawmakers in the 100-seat Latvian parliament. Kulbergs, a 47-year-old former entrepreneur, is seen as a consensus-builder focused on technical objectives until the legislative elections scheduled for October. The coalition comprises the United List (center-right), the National Alliance (nationalist), and two centrist parties from the former majority: New Unity and the Union of Greens and Farmers.

Kulbergs emphasized the critical need to bolster Latvia's security, a member of both the EU and NATO. His government's priorities include strengthening the country's armed forces, reinforcing alliances, and ensuring economic resilience. "The government's duty is to ensure Latvia's security, in its broadest sense, meaning ensuring the state's external security, economic security, energy security, but also people's sense of security in their own country," Kulbergs stated.

The new administration has retained the outgoing foreign minister, Baiba Braze, and appointed a military official, Colonel Raivis Melnis, as the defense minister. Melnis will resign from his military post before taking office. The coalition's joint program prioritizes defense enhancements, border protection, and unwavering support for Ukraine. Political analyst Nils Muiznieks noted a strong consensus on foreign policy, highlighting Riga's pro-European and Atlanticist stance and its solidarity with Ukraine. The government also pledges to maintain fiscal stability, combat corruption, and implement family policies in a country of 1.8 million facing demographic decline.

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The government's duty is to ensure Latvia's security, in its broadest sense, meaning ensuring the state's external security, economic security, energy security, but also people's sense of security in their own country.