Karins acted like a Western politician - Silina

RIGA - Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) has acted like a decent Western politician by resigning as Foreign Minister, Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) said on Thursday after a conversation with the politician.

Silina pointed out that Karins himself had decided to resign. The Prime Minister stressed that Karins had acted like a decent Western politician in order to remove any shadow of doubt in the current situation and to allow all the investigations into the flights to take place.

"I believe that Krisjanis Karins has worked in good faith as Foreign Minister and has represented Latvia's interests very well both in the European Union and NATO," the Prime Minister said.

According to Silina, she has not yet thought of a candidate for the post of Foreign Minister.

According to unofficial information obtained by LETA, Zanda Kalnina-Lukasevica (New Unity), a former parliamentary secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is mentioned as one of the possible candidates for the post of foreign minister.

As reported, after a meeting with Silina today, Karins has decided to step down as foreign minister.

Karins will officially resign on April 10. He explained that this date was chosen so that Saeima could approve a new foreign minister during a parliamentary sitting the next day - April 11.

For several months now, the scandal of private flights used by working delegations led by Karins during his time as prime minister has been a topic of public criticism.

As reported, the Prosecutor General's Office has opened and handed over to the Corruption Prevention Bureau (KNAB) for investigation the use of contract flights by Karins for working trips during his time in office.

According to public information, the General Prosecutor's Office carried out an investigation into the use of contract air travel services during the former PM's working trips.

The Prosecutor General's Office does not dispute that in the course of the performance of the duties of senior state officials, situations may arise when it is necessary to use the services of a contracted air transport for the purpose of securing a working trip.

LETA also reported, the special air trips made by the delegations led by Karins during his office as the prime minister, which have attracted criticism from a part of the public, cost EUR 613,830 from the state budget between 2021 and September 2023, according to the information gathered by the State Chancellery.