Latvia: Parliament approves new three-party coalition government

Latvia’s parliament, the Saeima, has approved a new coalition government led by Evika Silina with 53 votes for and 29 against, LSM reports. The three-party coalition consists of Silina’s centre-right New Unity party, the conservative Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS), and the social-democratic Progressives. New Unity’s previous coalition partners, the National Alliance and the United List, criticised the change in government, accusing New Unity of betraying its principles by allying with ZZS. Silina is Latvia’s second-ever female prime minister, following Laimdota Straujuma in 2014-2016. With Silina’s appointment, all three Baltic States now have a female head of government.