Latvian prime minister resigns

Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins has said that he and his government will resign later this week.

"This Thursday [August 17] I will submit the resignation of myself and this cabinet to the president," Reuters quotes Karins as addressing a press conference.

Last week, Karins said he hoped to reconfigure the government after the current coalition partners rejected his proposal for a cabinet reshuffle, local news agency BNS reported.

Karins' centre-right New Unity party plans to select its candidate for the post of prime minister on Wednesday, he said.

It is ultimately up to President Edgars Rinkevics to give a mandate to a new potential prime minister to try to form a government. Any new coalition would also face a vote in parliament before it can take office.

The next Latvian election for parliament is scheduled for 2026.