The government of Prime Minister Indulis Emsis has fallen, forced out after its proposed 2005 budget failed Oct. 28 to be adopted by the Saeima, the Latvian parliament. Jockeying now begins as political parties try to form a new coalition to lead the country.

Parliamentary rules say that if a budget fails in the first or second readings, it is the equivalent of a vote of no confidence in the government. The vote in the first reading was 53 against, 39 in favor and 5 abstentions, according to Latvian media reports.

The Emsis government—a minority coalition comprised of three parties—proposed a budget that would spend LVL 2.73 billion in the next year. However, according to media reports, the vote against the budget was more a vote against the Emsis government rather than an attack on the overall budget.

Ironically, media reports also said Oct. 27 that the Emsis-led coalition had secured enough votes to be able to pass the budget on its first reading. But, the news agency LETA said, on Oct. 28 members of parliament from Tautas partija (People’s Party) turned against the government and voted against the budget, even though their party is part of the minority coalition.

The Emsis government easily survived a vote of no confidence on Sept. 16. The vote had been sought by the leftist Tautas saskaņas partija (National Harmony Party). The conservative Jaunais laiks (New Era) party, led by former Prime Minister Einars Repše, also has sought to force out Emsis.

Emsis became prime minister on March 9 when parliament approved his government in a 56-33 vote. The coalition of minority parties included Emsis’ own Zaļo un zemnieku savienība (Union of Greens and Farmers), the conservative Latvijas Pirmā partija (First Party of Latvia) and the conservative Tautas partija.

President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga now has to invite a new candidate to become prime minister and form a new government, which will have to be approved by parliament. Emsis and his ministers are expected to continue serving until a new government is approved.

Another Estonian soldier has been killed in Iraq, according to the Estonian Ministry of Defense, becoming the third soldier from the small Baltic contingent to die in an attack by insurgents.

First Sgt. Arre Illenzeer, 28, was killed and five other Estonian soldiers were injured Oct. 25 when the vehicle in which they were riding drove over a bomb. Two of the injured are reported to be in serious condition, according to Baltic media.

Illenzeer is the second Estonian to die in Iraq. Junior Sgt. Andres Nuiamäe, 21, died Feb. 28. Latvian First Lt. Olafs Baumanis, 34, died June 8 in an attack on an ammunition depot.

Illenzeer, attached to the ESTPLA-9 light infantry unit, was part of a patrol in western Baghdad when the attack occurred.

Latvian Minister of Defense Atis Slakteris and Vice Adm. Gaidis Andrejs Zeibots, commander of the nation’s armed forces, expressed their condolences to Estonia over the death of the soldier. Latvia currently has 133 troops serving in Iraq, according to the Ministry of Defense.

Although the number of children born in Latvia last year reached a seven-year high, initial data suggest that the birth rate this year will be flat or may decline slightly, the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia announced Oct. 22.

A total of 21,006 live births were recorded in Latvia last year, the bureau said in a press release. In 1995, a total of 21,595 live births were recorded.

In the first nine months of this year, the bureau said, a total of 15,800 children have been born. In several regions, including Rīga, it looks as if the number of births will exceed last year’s, but overall the country may not see an increase.

Overall in 2003, boys represented 51.6 percent of newborns, which the statistics bureau said is typical. Given that mortality is higher among boys than girls, the balance between males and females levels off and, by age 32, the number of women exceeds the number of men in Latvia. However, in the regions of Jelgava, Rēzekna, Daugavpils, Saldus and Valmiera, more girls than boys were born last year.

The bureau noted that Latvia’s birth rate of 1.29 children per each woman remains one of the lowest in Europe and is below the accepted level of 2.1-2.2 needed to maintain the population. However, the nation’s birth rate has risen since slipping to 1.11 in 1998.

Of all live births recorded last year, 64.4 percent were listed as ethnic Latvians, the bureau said.