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Latvia prime minister resigns over supermarket collapse

World News

27-11-2013 | 10:34

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Latvia prime minister resigns over supermarket collapse

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Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis resigned on Wednesday, taking responsibility for the collapse of a supermarket roof that killed 54 people last week and plunging the Baltic state into turmoil weeks ahead of its entry into the euro zone.

The departure of the Latvia's longest-serving premier brought down its centre-right government, a measure of the scale of the political uproar triggered by the tragedy in Riga.

President Andris Berzins said in a statement he now planned to appoint a new government this year. Political analysts said that would stave off the chance of a snap vote earlier than the national elections that were already scheduled for next year.

Dombrovskis did not give details on his reasons for quitting, but his economy minister, Daniels Pavluts, this week partly blamed the collapse on a lack of government oversight of construction projects.

Latvia's government also abolished a national building inspectorate as part of austerity measures that helped pave Latvia's way into the single currency.

"I announce I am resigning from the post of prime minister, taking political responsibility for ... the tragedy," Dombrovskis told journalists, according to local news agency BNS.

The prime minister's spokesman Martins Panke confirmed the resignation to Reuters.

REUTERS

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