Latvian PM Karins resigns after coalition collapse

Riga [Latvia], August 18:Latvian Prime Minister KrisjanisKarins confirmed his resignation on Thursday, automatically triggering the end of his cabinet under the constitution.
The administration, brought down by a coalition row, will temporarily stay in office until a new government is sworn in.
Latvia, which is a member of both the European Union and NATO, borders Russia and
Belarus. President Edgars Rinkevics, whose mandate includes appointing a new prime minister, announced that he would start consultations with all parties represented in parliament next week.
He demanded that the new government set an overarching goal - to reach the average welfare level of the EU by 2030.
Karins previously led a three-party coalition including his liberal-conservative New Unity (JaunaVienotiba) party, the conservative National Alliance and the centrist United List.
The coalition failed when Karins tried to include two left-leaning opposition parties in the alliance against the wishes of his partners. Karins is reportedly hoping an election will help him reconfigure the government after current coalition partners rejected his proposed Cabinet reshuffle.
His party has nominated former welfare minister EvikaSilina as the possible successor to US-born Karins, who had been in office since 2019 and declared on Monday that he did not want to lead the next government.
The next Latvian election for parliament is not scheduled until 2026.
Source: Qatar Tribune