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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Latvian government falls over Riga supermarket disaster | Latvian government falls over Riga supermarket disaster |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Latvia's PM Valdis Dombrovskis has announced his resignation, and thereby the fall of his government, over the deadly collapse of a Riga supermarket. | Latvia's PM Valdis Dombrovskis has announced his resignation, and thereby the fall of his government, over the deadly collapse of a Riga supermarket. |
| He made the announcement at a meeting with President Andris Berzins. | He made the announcement at a meeting with President Andris Berzins. |
| "Considering the tragedy and all related circumstances... a new government is needed that has the clear support of parliament," Mr Dombrovskis told reporters. | "Considering the tragedy and all related circumstances... a new government is needed that has the clear support of parliament," Mr Dombrovskis told reporters. |
| At least 54 people died when the Maxima supermarket collapsed last Thursday. | |
| President Berzins earlier described the disaster as "murder" and called for foreign experts to investigate what had happened. | |
| Three-time premier | Three-time premier |
| Mr Dombrovskis met the president for an hour and a half on Wednesday, the Baltic news agency Delfi reports. | Mr Dombrovskis met the president for an hour and a half on Wednesday, the Baltic news agency Delfi reports. |
| President Berzins was quoted by the agency as saying: "I call on all who look to the future to assess their responsibility and act accordingly." | President Berzins was quoted by the agency as saying: "I call on all who look to the future to assess their responsibility and act accordingly." |
| The prime minister's spokesman told Agence France-Presse news agency that "the government takes political responsibility for the tragedy". | The prime minister's spokesman told Agence France-Presse news agency that "the government takes political responsibility for the tragedy". |
| The collapse was the biggest loss of life since Latvia became independent from the USSR in 1991. | The collapse was the biggest loss of life since Latvia became independent from the USSR in 1991. |
| Police have opened a criminal investigation into the cause of the disaster. | Police have opened a criminal investigation into the cause of the disaster. |
| Structural experts have suggested that the supermarket building itself may have been badly designed and so not able to support a garden that was being built on the roof. | Structural experts have suggested that the supermarket building itself may have been badly designed and so not able to support a garden that was being built on the roof. |
| After analysing photos, videos and eyewitness reports, one structural engineer suggested there had been numerous design flaws in the roof's supporting beams - including not enough bolts. | After analysing photos, videos and eyewitness reports, one structural engineer suggested there had been numerous design flaws in the roof's supporting beams - including not enough bolts. |
| Substandard construction materials and corruption are other possible lines of inquiry. | Substandard construction materials and corruption are other possible lines of inquiry. |
| Eurozone | Eurozone |
| Mr Berzins can either reject his prime minister's resignation or accept it and nominate an acting prime minister whose job it will be to form a new cabinet. | Mr Berzins can either reject his prime minister's resignation or accept it and nominate an acting prime minister whose job it will be to form a new cabinet. |
| Elections are not scheduled until October next year. | Elections are not scheduled until October next year. |
| Taking office in 2009, Mr Dombrovskis was charged with making harsh budget cuts and tax increases as well as tough structural reforms to tackle the country's economic crisis. | Taking office in 2009, Mr Dombrovskis was charged with making harsh budget cuts and tax increases as well as tough structural reforms to tackle the country's economic crisis. |
| He was twice reappointed, and is widely credited with preventing the small Baltic country from going bankrupt. | He was twice reappointed, and is widely credited with preventing the small Baltic country from going bankrupt. |
| Latvia is due to join the eurozone on 1 January, becoming the 18th EU state to adopt the single currency. | Latvia is due to join the eurozone on 1 January, becoming the 18th EU state to adopt the single currency. |
| The country of two million observed a three-minute silence on Monday, the last of three days of national mourning. | The country of two million observed a three-minute silence on Monday, the last of three days of national mourning. |
| Among those killed, who included two Russian citizens, were three firefighters. President Berzins attended their funeral on Wednesday. | Among those killed, who included two Russian citizens, were three firefighters. President Berzins attended their funeral on Wednesday. |
| Flowers and candles have been placed near the ruins of the building. | Flowers and candles have been placed near the ruins of the building. |