The minister announced his decision after meeting with Prime Minister Ivica Seleka.
According to his announcement, he will leave his post next April 10, and Parliament can decide his successor the next day.
Karens served as Prime Minister of Latvia between 2019 and 2023. alleged during his term
Travel abroad at least thirty times in private rented cars instead of taking cheaper flights.
Last week, the Latvian Prosecutor's Office initiated criminal proceedings over possible waste of public funds in relation to the flights, although these were not directed against specific individuals.
Karens, who has been Foreign Minister since September 2023, rejected the accusations that have been circulating for months, and defended himself by saying that he needed the flights by private planes to save time so that he could return to Latvia as soon as possible to deal with government affairs. Right-wing liberal politician Új Egység (Jauna Vienotiba) had previously refused to resign.
Ivica Celina said Karens bore political responsibility for the flights in light of the criminal proceedings.
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