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On Thursday, 28 May, outgoing Prime Minister Evika Siliņa affixed a commemorative silver nail to the flagpole of the Prime Minister’s flag during a symbolic ceremony at the Cabinet of Ministers building. The nail features her signature, three stars, and the term of her Government (2023–2026).
The tradition of leaving a special silver nail on the Prime Minister’s flagpole to symbolize the term of office of the government led by the Prime Minister has been upheld for 31 years. It was introduced in 1995 by former Prime Minister Māris Gailis. The tradition was borrowed from the Latvian Army—when a military unit receives a flag, a commemorative nail is driven into it.
According to tradition, during the office handover ceremony, the Prime Minister affixes a silver nail to the flagpole of the Prime Minister’s flag. The Prime Minister's flag features a white field with a straight cross in the colours of the national flag, with the Greater Coat of Arms of Latvia displayed in the upper left corner. The silver nail is an ornamental nail with a broad head, bearing the Prime Minister's signature and the term of office of the government.
Prime Minister Evika Siliņa chose to include three stars—a symbol of Latvian statehood—on her commemorative silver nail. Historically, they represent Kurzeme, Vidzeme and Latgale, the regions whose unification laid the foundations for the establishment of an independent state of Latvia.
“The three stars are a symbol of our Latvia. For me, they are also associated with the events in Dome Square, when people gathered to stand up for European values, human rights and democracy. It is yet another reminder that the rule of law and democracy must be defended — there is no victory without struggle,” emphasises Evika Siliņa.
Photos from the office handover ceremony are available in the Flickr album: 28.05.2026 Prime Minister’s Office Handover Ceremony
The Prime Minister’s flagpole bears several commemorative nails left by previous Latvian Prime Ministers. For example, Krišjānis Kariņš chose to include the Latvian flag—a national symbol, while Māris Kučinskis left a nail featuring the symbol of Latvia’s centenary. Earlier, Laimdota Straujuma included a millstone, which was the symbol of Latvia’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and Valdis Dombrovskis included a euro coin, symbolising Latvia’s accession to the euro area.
More information about the silver nails left by previous Latvian Prime Ministers is available in the Flickr photo gallery: Silver Nails from the Office Handover Ceremonies of Latvian Prime Ministers
