Five months after entering the European Union, Latvia was plunged into political turmoil

Five months after entering the European Union, Latvia was plunged into political turmoil as its minority coalition government was forced to resign after parliament rejected the draft 2005 budget. The 100-strong parliament threw out the draft budget by 53 votes against, with 39 votes for and five abstentions. Right-wing opposition lawmakers and a pro-business party in the ruling coalition voted to bring the government down. Latvian Prime Minister Indulis Emsis, Europe's first Green head of government, came to office only in March, after a right-wing coalition resigned because of squabbling within the government. In accordance with the rules of Latvia's parliament, if lawmakers vote against the draft budget at its first or second reading, this is regarded as a vote of "no confidence" against the government. Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, who was to leave for Rome later on Thursday for the signature of the EU Constitution, must now nominate a new prime minister whom parliament must endorse. The pro-business People's Party, which was the biggest party in the outgoing coalition, claimed the right to form a new majority government after siding with the opposition.