RIGA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins of the ruling New Unity party announced his resignation on Thursday after meeting with Prime Minister Evika Silina.
Karins told reporters that he will step down on April 10. The date has been chosen because a regular parliament sitting is scheduled for April 11, so lawmakers would be able to elect a new foreign minister.
The resignation followed several months of public criticism over air travel services Karins and his team used for working trips while he was serving as prime minister.
The scandal broke out after media reports that 612,000 euros (661,700 U.S. dollars) worth of public funds were spent on Karins' flights from 2021 to September 2023. Together with the costs covered by the European Union, the expenses added up to 1.36 million euros, according to local media report.
The Prosecutor General's Office said last week that a criminal investigation has been started into the case. (1 euro = 1.08 U.S.dollar) ■