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Latvian Prime Minister Valdis
Dombrovskis stands in front of a picture of presented euro coins during the opening of the exhibition 'Euro-Our Currency'
in Riga, Latvia, on September 12, 2013. (ILMARS ZNOTINS/AFP/Getty Images) |
ILMARS ZNOTINS via Getty Images
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RIGA,
Latvia (AP) — Latvia's prime minister resigned on Tuesday after accepting political
responsibility for the collapse of a supermarket roof in the capital that
killed 54 people.
Valdis
Dombrovskis' decision means that his center-right government automatically
falls. He was the longest serving prime minister in Latvia's history.
"Considering
the ... tragedy and all the related circumstances, the country needs a
government that has a majority support in parliament and can solve the
situation that has arisen in the country," Dombrovskis told journalists
after meeting President Andris Berzins.
Last
week's collapse of the Maxima supermarket was the worst disaster since Latvia
declared its independence from Soviet Union in 1991, and has caused outrage
among Latvians.
Police
have opened a criminal investigation into the cause of last week's tragedy.
Possible explanations for the disaster include a flawed design, substandard
construction materials, and corruption.
Berzins
has accepted the resignation and is now searching for a candidate who will need
to put together a new coalition, the president's office said.
Dombrovskis
came to power in 2009 as Latvia's economy was sinking into a deep recession and
was charged with leading harsh budget cuts and tax increases while at the same
time implementing tough structural reforms demanded by international
organizations such as the International Monetary Fund.
Dombrovskis
was re-appointed twice as prime minister since then, and is widely credited
with preventing the small Baltic nation from going bankrupt.
Latvia's
economy has returned to growth and was the fastest growing in the European
Union over the past two years.
On Jan. 1, Latvia will become the 18th member of the euro area.
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