Prime Minister Karins to step down

RIGA - Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) is stepping down, as Karins announced on Monday.

Karins told a press conference today that he would submit his resignation to President Edgars Rikevics during their meeting this coming Thursday.

With Karins' resignation, the entire Cabinet of Ministers will step down, paving the way for formation of a new government where the coalition will expectedly be made up of New Unity, Union of Greens and Farmers, and the Progressives.

Karins' original decision to stay on as the prime minister after he announced a new round of coalition talks was one of the main objections from his former coalition partners, National Alliance and the United List, which claimed that this was against the Constitution.

According to the law, Cabinet members will continue to work until Saeima approves a new government.