Latvian Prime Minister Straujuma resigns

  • 2015-12-07
  • BNS/TBT-STAFF/RIGA

Latvia’s Prime Minister, Laimdota Straujuma, announced her resignation on Monday.

She announced her resignation following a meeting with Latvian President, Raimonds Vejonis.

This means the end of the current Latvian coalition government.

“I am announcing the resignation of the government today,” she said.

The prime minister said some time had passed since she took office, and “the government has adopted two [annual national] budgets, successfully completed Latvia’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and the country is in a good shape.” 

As evidence, she pointed to a 3.3 percent rise in economic growth, the wage increase, and rising exports, plus a 6 percent increase in investments.

The time has come to create a new government, Straujuma said. "New ideas, new input, and new energy is needed to make further efforts on the basis of what has already been accomplished.”

She thanked the ministers of her Cabinet for their work, and said she was grateful to Latvia’s former president, Andris Berzins, and his successor, Raimonds Vejonis.

The latter was elected as the Latvian president this summer. 

The outgoing prime minister also thanked the ruling coalition partners and lawmakers.

"But the greatest thanks go to the voters, who upon the expiry of the term of my first Cabinet gave me a chance to head the Latvian government for the second time. 

When the new government is formed, I will return to my seat in the parliament,” Straujuma said.