Baiļu koalīcija
Axel Reetz, Dr. , Veiko Spolītis, politologi
18.oktobrī pie Saeimas demonstrējošie pieprasīja valdības atkāpšanos un aicināja prezidentu atcelt Saeimu. Nenogurstošās diskusijas interneta diskusiju telpā un visaptveroša neapmierinātība ar politiskās elites piekopto absolūto nerēķināšanos ar opozīciju kombinācijā ar ļaužu straumēm, kas aizplūst uz Īriju, atgādina vēsturē notikušas pārmaiņas. Pašlaik notiekošais ir kā spoguļattēls 1991.gada notikumiem, vienīgi Sarkanās armijas un to ģimeņu vietā aizbrauc Latvijas cilvēki, protestos pret bijušās nomenklatūras piekopto interfrontes politiku tagad tiek protestēts pret tiesiski apšaubāmi ievēlētās valdošās koalīcijas "buldozera" stila politiku. 1991.gadā nesteigties ar neatkarības izsludināšanu aicināja Mihails Gorbačovs, un pagājušo otrdien Latvijas Universitātē par Latvijas valstiskuma trauslumu atgādināja ASV vēstniece Latvijā. Iespējams, ka tā ir sakritība, bet diskusijas par robežlīgumu, drošības likumu pieņemšana un neskaitāmu pērkamu politiķu tiesu darbi notiek vienlaikus. Pēdējā gada laikā Latvijas masu saziņas līdzekļos atspoguļotais viedoklis rada šķietamu sajūtu par Latviju kā unikāli korumpētu valsti. Tomēr, lai kā arī to nevēlētos atzīt normatīvi ideālas politikas pielūdzēji Latvijā, ir jāatgādina, ka korupcijas skandāli notiek arī citās valstīs. Tāpēc arī pastāv demokrātiska režīma varas instrumenti, lai izvairītos no korupcijas. Piemēram, Valsts prezidentes Vairas Vīķes Freibergas veto Satversmes 72.panta ietvaros bija zīme, ka konstitucionāli Latvijas demokrātija pastāv. Tomēr ar to arī formālā demokrātija Latvijā beidzas. Bez konstitucionālajiem principiem šodienas demokrātijās tikpat nepieciešamas ir arī vērtības un normas, kas veicinātu pilsonisko līdzdalību un ierobežotu varas turētāju vēlmi uzurpēt varu.
Šādu normu un vērtību izpratne piemīt Rietumu demokrātijas uzbūves būtību izpratušiem Latvijas iedzīvotājiem, un nevar noliegt, ka pārsvarā gadījumos tas ir noticis Rietumos iegūtas izglītības ceļā. Latvijas iedzīvotāji nekad nav bijusi viendabīga ļaužu masa, lai arī kā totalitāru ideoloģiju pārņemtie pārstāvji vēlētos to nemitīgi uzsvērt. Pēdējos gados Latvijā ir atgriezušies Rietumos izglītotie iedzīvotāji. Viņi ir izglītoti par tirgus ekonomikas un demokrātijas pamatprincipiem un šādi saprot demokrātiskas valsts spēles noteikumus. Pretstatā tradicionālām un patriarhāli audzinātām ļaužu kopām, kuras nesaprot indivīda nozīmi demokrātijā un balstās uz čomu būšanu privāto interešu aizstāvēšanai vieglprātīgi pieprasot stingrās rokas nepieciešamību, sakārtojot valsti, liberāli noskaņotie saprot ne tikai savas tiesības, bet arī pienākumus pret valsti. Ir baisi novērot sabiedriskajā transportā patriarhālo uzskatu paudēju domas par "pilsētas ar rītdienu" sakārtošanas autora kontrastēšanu ar Šķēles prastu žulicību vai arī par Vladimira Putina veiksmīgās politikas slavināšanu, "izceļot Krieviju saulītē". Zināšanu trūkums par demokrātiskas sabiedrības funkcionēšanas mehānismiem un starptautiskajā politikā notiekošo ir graujoši visaptverošs. Šādi Latvijā varam novērot diktokrātijas iezīmes. Proti, lai arī formāli mehānismi demokrātiska režīma pastāvēšanai pastāv (konstitūcijā nostiprinātas brīvības, brīva prese), valsts pārvaldīto un pārvaldāmo regulējošās normas un vērtības raksturo diktatūras esamību. Latvijā eksistē vairākums apātisku pilsoņu, aktīva, bet vēl mazskaitlīga pilsoniska opozīcija un diemžēl par Rietumu demokrātijas fundamentālajiem principiem neizglītota politiskā elite, kura akli seko patriarhālu uzticību pieprasošam partiju vadoņu diktātam.
Kopš Lemberga aizturēšanas neviens no koalīcijas partneriem nav reaģējis vai centies komentēt notikušo. Šodienas koalīciju satur kopā bailes no valdības krišanas, kas nozīmētu viņu nepārtrauktas labklājības vairošanas beigas. Budžeta pieņemšana ir lielākā pārbaude šai baiļu koalīcijai. Iespējams, ka vēstures ironija atkārtojas, jo reiz jau Kalvītis aicināja balsot pret Tautas partijas sastādīto valsts budžetu un šādi gāza prombūtnē Itālijā esošo I. Emša valdību 2004.gadā. Tikai nākotne rādīs, vai Latvijas valdošie politiķi spēs rīkoties atbildīgi un izteikt neuzticību valdībai caur negatīvu 2008. gada budžeta balsojumu, vai arī Latvijā turpināsies varu uzurpējušās elites mokpilnā agonija.
Gadījumā ja Saeimas vairākumu apvieno nevis kopējas vērtības par tiesisku valsti, bet gan bailes, tad Latvijas iedzīvotājiem ir jāliek pēdējās cerības uz Valsts prezidentu Valdi Zatleru. Valda Zatlera ievēlēšanu aptumšoja politiskās elites noslēpumainā kandidāta izvirzīšanas procedūra un Tautas partijas biedra Lagzdiņa zīmīgais žests pilsoniskajai sabiedrībai. Tāpēc, dzēšot demokrātiskas vērtības apzinošās sabiedrības neticības paliekas par Valda Zatlera politisko neitralitāti un sekojot aukstam politiskam aprēķinam, Valdis Zatlers varētu uzņemties valstsvīra cienīgu politisko atbildību un sākt prettiesiski ievēlētās Saeimas atlaišanas procedūru, šādi iegūstot valstsvīra laurus un neviltotas sabiedrības simpātijas.
Latvijas valsts patriotiem, iztēlojoties ārvalstu reakciju par ārkārtas vēlēšanām Latvijā, varētu nepatikt valsts tēla negatīvais atspoguļojums. Tomēr līdzīgi notikumi Lietuvā 2005.gadā, kad Lietuvas Seims sāka prezidenta Rolanda Paksa atstādināšanas procedūru, pārliecina par demokrātisku vērtību pakāpenisku nostiprināšanos Baltijas valstīs. Šādi Lietuvas iedzīvotāji ieguva pārliecību, ka pretlikumīgi politiķi tiek saukti pie atbildības, un šādi veicināja Lietuvas iedzīvotāju ticību demokrātiskam režīmam. Līdzīgi Lietuvas parlamenta deputātiem rīkojās arī viņu poļu kolēģi. Polijas Seima raibais koalīcijas vairākums izira, un Polijas Seims bija spiests sevi atlaist, šādi liekot Polijas prezidentam izsludināt ārkārtas vēlēšanas. 21.oktobrī notikušās vēlēšanas Polijā parādīja, cik pamatoti ir Rietumu demokrātijas vērtību pārstāvošā Donalda Tuska pārmetumi par Kačiņsku dvīņu patriarhālo pārvaldes nesavietojamību ar ES valdošajām vērtībām. Polijas vēlēšanas ir zīme par Austrumeiropas politiskās kultūras eiropeizāciju.
Slīgšana beztiesiskuma muklājā un varas leģitimitātes zudums vairākumā Latvijas iedzīvotājos pamudināja savu runu teikt arī ASV vēstniecei. Latvijas ilgtspējīgai attīstībai pēc dalības ES un NATO ir nepieciešama ilgtermiņa attīstības stratēģija, bet pašreizējā valdošā koalīcija nav spējīga šādu stratēģiju piedāvāt, jo tos vieno īstermiņa intereses jeb, citiem vārdiem sakot, bailes zaudēt savu krēslu. Ir izstrādāts Nacionālās attīstības plāns, bet nav novērojams nekas, kas liecinātu par tautsaimniecības struktūras un izglītības sistēmas maiņu. Diemžēl, bet nacionālā kopprodukta pieaugums uz vienu iedzīvotāju gadā (11 procenti 2007.gadā) neatspoguļo, ka šis procents pieaug, arī pateicoties no valsts uz Īriju izbraukušo iedzīvotāju skaitam.
Latvijā notiekošais nenorisinās atrauti no pasaules notikumiem. Polijas ārkārtas vēlēšanas, Rumānijas un Bulgārijas valdību krišana, Beļģijas konstitucionālā krīze un Čehijas nespēja izveidot valdības koalīciju ir daļa no globalizācijas izraisītajiem izaicinājumiem Eiropas Savienībā. Pašreizējai Latvijas politiskajai elitei ir iespējas novērtēt savu darbu Eiropas kontekstā un pašattīroties izvēlēties ilgtspējīgas un demokrātiskas valsts attīstības stratēģiju. Šādi Latvijas politikas elites pārstāvjiem, ņemot piemēru no 1949. gada Vācijas Federatīvās Republikas konstitūcijas veidotāju streitbare Demokratie (kareivīgās demokrātijas) principa, derētu iegaumēt, ka politiskajai kultūrai nebūtu jāapdraud valsts demokrātiskie pamati. Pretējā gadījumā Latvijas politiskā elite nolemtu Latvijas valsti Krievijas pievārtē esošas nedemokrātiskas tranzīta republikas liktenim.
Latvijas valdošās koalīcijas rindu sakārtošana pēc vēsturiskā 18. oktobra piketa, kad zīmīgi šajā pašā dienā VDR diktators Ēriks Honekers 1989.g. atkāpās no amata, notikumu atskaņā patlaban rada mākslīgu stabilitātes sajūtu valstī. Patiesībā Latvijā pie varas esošā politiskā elite ir neatgriezeniski bankrotējusi, ja jau pat Tautas partijas gaišākie prāti atšķirīgu iemeslu dēļ ir spiesti pamest valdību. Tāpēc pie Saeimas sapulcējušos pilsoņu un viņu līdzgaitnieku iedrošināšanai nobeigumā vēlamies pievērsties ASV vēstnieces Ketrīnas Todas Beilijas aizsāktajam un šādi citēt bijušo ASV prezidentu Ābramu Linkolnu: "Dažkārt var visus apmuļķot, un dažus var vienmēr apmuļķot, bet nevar visus vienmēr apmuļķot."
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Agony of the existing governance system (updated)
The Saeima is just about to start its session. Yesterday, opposition New Era (JL) and Reconciliation Centre (SC) parties initiated vote of no confidence against the existing government. Fatherland Union (TB/LNNK) party announced that they would not support the motion prior passing the 2008 budget. The present political elite is thoroughly rotten. President and Mr Kalvītis still reiterate, that there is a need for stability in Latvia and I guess that they are simply blind or outright stupid. Therefore, my question to the political leaders is - for whom there is a need for a present stability when citizens are demonstrating already??
UPDATED
The master demagogue Juris Dobelis (TB/LNNK) is just NUTS, and I wonder how come rationally thinking person could elect such a cloun... Shall have to come back later to his demagoguery whilst using Seaima records and TRANSLATE it for you to see the prime example of skewed mindset. Other member of TB/LNNK Pēteris Tabūns was not a better option..........brrrrr.....how wide is the canyon between the governing coalition living in the bubble and ordinary citizens..........MP's of the governing coalition should go back to school!!!
It is 10:35CET and Saeima just voted with 56 NO's against the motion of the opposition. The voting machine of the governing coalition still works impeccably and NO RATIONAL arguments could shake their stance. I am was amazed to hear that also TB/LNNK member Anna Seile has not understood how the bsic principles of paliamentary democracy work.
It means that the existing government still continues its work and tomorrow there is a first reading of the 2008 budget vote in the parliament. ONLY the scare to lose their seats motivates the Saeima majority voting machine to work gainst their own principles and pushes this country deeper into the political crisis. There will be demonstration in front of the parliament tomorrow and whilst seeing blatant demagogery and ABSOLUTE lack of ANY arguments of the governing coalition members there is no wonder that citizens are demonstrating in front of the Saeima and demand its dispersal.
P.S. I believe that Diena MUST publish records of the governing coalition member speeches in the parliament in full extent to open eyes and see what kind of brainless creatures decide our and our children's future!!
UPDATED
The master demagogue Juris Dobelis (TB/LNNK) is just NUTS, and I wonder how come rationally thinking person could elect such a cloun... Shall have to come back later to his demagoguery whilst using Seaima records and TRANSLATE it for you to see the prime example of skewed mindset. Other member of TB/LNNK Pēteris Tabūns was not a better option..........brrrrr.....how wide is the canyon between the governing coalition living in the bubble and ordinary citizens..........MP's of the governing coalition should go back to school!!!
It is 10:35CET and Saeima just voted with 56 NO's against the motion of the opposition. The voting machine of the governing coalition still works impeccably and NO RATIONAL arguments could shake their stance. I am was amazed to hear that also TB/LNNK member Anna Seile has not understood how the bsic principles of paliamentary democracy work.
It means that the existing government still continues its work and tomorrow there is a first reading of the 2008 budget vote in the parliament. ONLY the scare to lose their seats motivates the Saeima majority voting machine to work gainst their own principles and pushes this country deeper into the political crisis. There will be demonstration in front of the parliament tomorrow and whilst seeing blatant demagogery and ABSOLUTE lack of ANY arguments of the governing coalition members there is no wonder that citizens are demonstrating in front of the Saeima and demand its dispersal.
P.S. I believe that Diena MUST publish records of the governing coalition member speeches in the parliament in full extent to open eyes and see what kind of brainless creatures decide our and our children's future!!
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Sic transit gloria mundi
LETA just announced that the PM accepted resignation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Artis Pabriks after all. Minister of Culture Ms Demakova would be his replacement for now. Last Friday it was the wife of the former PM Kristiāna Lībane-Šķēle who publickly announced that the budget for the next fiscal year is more important than the political future of Mr Kalvītis. I consider these announcements as a sign of quick agony of the present government coalition. Now the only question left is whether the PM shall step down after Wednesday's voting on next year's budget or even earlier?
Mr Kalvītis was uttering the news about offers from campanies after he leaves the office for a month now. Does it mean that Latvian PM would step in the same shoes as Gerhard Shroeder and Goran Persson?
Anyway, the future of incompetent PM is not really at stake in the rapidly changing world. What shall take place next is really at stake here. Latvian constitutional system is solid, but it lacks western liberal values and norms in its political culture. First, after the snap elections there would be the sense of justice returned for the members of civil society in Latvia (because October 2006 elections were stolen from them, and look into the decision of Latvian Supreme Court as of December 6, 2006). After snap elections of the new parliament titanic efforts will be required from the party leaders of the existing opposition and probably newly founded political forces. Namely, it is not enought just to acquire power and promote party political elite, because political parties must be also active in nurturing active civil society through education their electorate, thus preventing collapse of the constitutional democracy! Latvia still struggles with the inertia of post totalitarianism and lack of civic activity, and there is no other way to tackle it that education campigns by the governing elites.
If the events would follow such scenario it would be a very good news not only for the Latvian civil society, but also Latvia's Baltic neighbors and the Baltic Sea area countries. As much the post-Soviet patriarchal elite in Latvia is concerned there is no way they could manage with their traditional governance style any further. Now, when privatiation of country assets is almost over (that enriched famous Latvian A-Team godfathers), and the competitive environment would require them active labours securing Latvia's long term prosperity in the multi-lingual conditions of the EU it is only obvious that the incumbent elite must exit. Advisors, journalists and finally even the US ambassador was reminding the present governing elite, that their value system is wrong. This week there is the time of reckoning and to finish today's blog entry there is no better concluding statement than : "so passes away the vainglory"
Mr Kalvītis was uttering the news about offers from campanies after he leaves the office for a month now. Does it mean that Latvian PM would step in the same shoes as Gerhard Shroeder and Goran Persson?
Anyway, the future of incompetent PM is not really at stake in the rapidly changing world. What shall take place next is really at stake here. Latvian constitutional system is solid, but it lacks western liberal values and norms in its political culture. First, after the snap elections there would be the sense of justice returned for the members of civil society in Latvia (because October 2006 elections were stolen from them, and look into the decision of Latvian Supreme Court as of December 6, 2006). After snap elections of the new parliament titanic efforts will be required from the party leaders of the existing opposition and probably newly founded political forces. Namely, it is not enought just to acquire power and promote party political elite, because political parties must be also active in nurturing active civil society through education their electorate, thus preventing collapse of the constitutional democracy! Latvia still struggles with the inertia of post totalitarianism and lack of civic activity, and there is no other way to tackle it that education campigns by the governing elites.
If the events would follow such scenario it would be a very good news not only for the Latvian civil society, but also Latvia's Baltic neighbors and the Baltic Sea area countries. As much the post-Soviet patriarchal elite in Latvia is concerned there is no way they could manage with their traditional governance style any further. Now, when privatiation of country assets is almost over (that enriched famous Latvian A-Team godfathers), and the competitive environment would require them active labours securing Latvia's long term prosperity in the multi-lingual conditions of the EU it is only obvious that the incumbent elite must exit. Advisors, journalists and finally even the US ambassador was reminding the present governing elite, that their value system is wrong. This week there is the time of reckoning and to finish today's blog entry there is no better concluding statement than : "so passes away the vainglory"
Quiet before the storm?
The incumbent president Zatlers after meeting the PM on Friday announced that Mr Kalvitis convinced him the ability of the existing government to govern the state. Basically the same words were reiterated by the former president Guntis Ulmanis in his Latvian TV evening LIVE news: 'Mr Kalvitis is a young person who must admit his mistakes, reevaluate his behaviour vis-a-vis Mr Loskutovs and continue governing'. It shows that both presidents HAVE NO CLUE what legal principles and responsible governance means (Mr Kalvitis breeched the law AGAIN and it was underlined by Prosecutor General requesting PM to explain why did he do so). The governing gang of Latvia Ltd. continues best governance practices of the CPSU. The latter actually never accepted itself committing mistakes, because it was the 'vanguard of the most progressive part of the humanity'. It is very sad, that the Soviet inertia has blurred Latvian citizenry' ability to comprehend how the representative democracy really works, and foremost, what does it mean for MP or minister to take responsibility for his/her actions.
The gang of Latvia Ltd. TRULY believes that there is democracy in Latvia (''all roads to hell are covered with golden cobblestones'' says old Latvian prowerb)! The reason why they believe in it, is because their political advisors (PR geeks actually:) keep repeating it to them, and because without knowledge about fundamentals of Western liberal democracy (just seeing the facade of it in numerous foreign visits demivered to them by official translators), they instead of cognisizing it have only evaluated workings of the liberal democracy to follow the arguments of Almond & Verba (Civic Culture, 1975:16). Just to mention pronouncements of two MP's after the demonstration in front of the saeima is enough to underline my argument. It was Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS)member Janis Strazdins who argued that the demonstration was organized by opposition funded by foreign spies who actually wanted to taint the good name of Latvian democracy. Other ''pearls'' came from the Head of the Saeima Internal Security Commission Mr Jaundzeikars (LC/LPP) and composer Imants Kalnins (TB-LNNK). The former accused the crowd in front of the Saeima for being merely idle and suggested them to better go and start working. The latter suggested that demonstrators in front of the Saeima is a sign that it is beneficial to some foreign power to project Latvia as a country where democracy does not operate properly. Such pronouncement are not news anymore and make me reckon, that the majority of Saeima members should be simply sent back to school and learn the basics of how modern democracies work.
So, we actually can name Latvia dictocracy, because constitutionally (on paper) Latvia is a functioning democracy. However, from the point of view of contents (norms, values), there exists a dictatorship of oligarchic wannabe aristocrats popularly called also oligarchs in Latvia! Discussions within elitist pocket parties barely take place due to the lack of knowledge about basic precepts of their ideological platform. Instead, party members blindly follow dictums of their founders which obviously caused discontent among broad and liberal swaths of Latvian citizenry, and that eventually brought the folks in front of Saeima this very Thursday.
The ones who pull the strings in parties have regrouped and incumbent president announced that next week shall be hard for the Latvian government. Next Thursday the Saeima wants to pass the budget. Opposition Reconciliation centre (SC) and New Era (JL) parties have announced that they would not support it, and coalition gangsters have accused opposition in irresponsible opportunism. If the budget is not going to be passed nothing tragic would happen, just to look how Belgium works for example today. The budget voting should be used as a trigger for the vote of no confidence of the existing government. To unbundle the existing coul de sac the option for the incumbent president would be actually to disband the parliament.
Valdis Zatlers has reiterated that he wants to become the president for all of Latvians (his election breached norms of democratic governance though). If there are members of presidential chancellary who could deliver him such message it would be good. While disbanding the parliament he would establish his place in Latvian history books and also avoid the country dissolving in front of his eyes. Issues at stake for the president are rather simple - either he shall be remembered as a statesman who had a courage to stand up against the nomenklatura clan and so free Latvian citizens from vestiges of crony capitalism, or he would be mentioned in annals as a corrupt doctor who did not have courage to stand up and so allowed the country once called Latvia to go down the gutter. Choice is yours Mr President!
P.S. For those of you considering my appeal to the incumbent president overblown I would remind to follow latest announcements of the PM and reaction of foreign media about Latvia. First, just month ago the PM has openly stated that Russian and Latvian cultures are traditionally similar, that Latvian and the US relations could be reasessed, and he would not allow resignation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Artis Pabriks) prior finalizing the Russian-Latvian border agreement (I would suggest that Artis Pabriks quit the People's Party after such an insistence of the PM). Second, apart from media in the Baltic Sea area, International Herald Tribune, Bloomberg.com, FAZ.de, Reuters none of the Continental European (except www.faz.de), British media and international credit agencies (except Bloomberg) have come up with Latvian news yet. What are they waiting, for the storm to happen?
The gang of Latvia Ltd. TRULY believes that there is democracy in Latvia (''all roads to hell are covered with golden cobblestones'' says old Latvian prowerb)! The reason why they believe in it, is because their political advisors (PR geeks actually:) keep repeating it to them, and because without knowledge about fundamentals of Western liberal democracy (just seeing the facade of it in numerous foreign visits demivered to them by official translators), they instead of cognisizing it have only evaluated workings of the liberal democracy to follow the arguments of Almond & Verba (Civic Culture, 1975:16). Just to mention pronouncements of two MP's after the demonstration in front of the saeima is enough to underline my argument. It was Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS)member Janis Strazdins who argued that the demonstration was organized by opposition funded by foreign spies who actually wanted to taint the good name of Latvian democracy. Other ''pearls'' came from the Head of the Saeima Internal Security Commission Mr Jaundzeikars (LC/LPP) and composer Imants Kalnins (TB-LNNK). The former accused the crowd in front of the Saeima for being merely idle and suggested them to better go and start working. The latter suggested that demonstrators in front of the Saeima is a sign that it is beneficial to some foreign power to project Latvia as a country where democracy does not operate properly. Such pronouncement are not news anymore and make me reckon, that the majority of Saeima members should be simply sent back to school and learn the basics of how modern democracies work.
So, we actually can name Latvia dictocracy, because constitutionally (on paper) Latvia is a functioning democracy. However, from the point of view of contents (norms, values), there exists a dictatorship of oligarchic wannabe aristocrats popularly called also oligarchs in Latvia! Discussions within elitist pocket parties barely take place due to the lack of knowledge about basic precepts of their ideological platform. Instead, party members blindly follow dictums of their founders which obviously caused discontent among broad and liberal swaths of Latvian citizenry, and that eventually brought the folks in front of Saeima this very Thursday.
The ones who pull the strings in parties have regrouped and incumbent president announced that next week shall be hard for the Latvian government. Next Thursday the Saeima wants to pass the budget. Opposition Reconciliation centre (SC) and New Era (JL) parties have announced that they would not support it, and coalition gangsters have accused opposition in irresponsible opportunism. If the budget is not going to be passed nothing tragic would happen, just to look how Belgium works for example today. The budget voting should be used as a trigger for the vote of no confidence of the existing government. To unbundle the existing coul de sac the option for the incumbent president would be actually to disband the parliament.
Valdis Zatlers has reiterated that he wants to become the president for all of Latvians (his election breached norms of democratic governance though). If there are members of presidential chancellary who could deliver him such message it would be good. While disbanding the parliament he would establish his place in Latvian history books and also avoid the country dissolving in front of his eyes. Issues at stake for the president are rather simple - either he shall be remembered as a statesman who had a courage to stand up against the nomenklatura clan and so free Latvian citizens from vestiges of crony capitalism, or he would be mentioned in annals as a corrupt doctor who did not have courage to stand up and so allowed the country once called Latvia to go down the gutter. Choice is yours Mr President!
P.S. For those of you considering my appeal to the incumbent president overblown I would remind to follow latest announcements of the PM and reaction of foreign media about Latvia. First, just month ago the PM has openly stated that Russian and Latvian cultures are traditionally similar, that Latvian and the US relations could be reasessed, and he would not allow resignation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Artis Pabriks) prior finalizing the Russian-Latvian border agreement (I would suggest that Artis Pabriks quit the People's Party after such an insistence of the PM). Second, apart from media in the Baltic Sea area, International Herald Tribune, Bloomberg.com, FAZ.de, Reuters none of the Continental European (except www.faz.de), British media and international credit agencies (except Bloomberg) have come up with Latvian news yet. What are they waiting, for the storm to happen?
Friday, October 19, 2007
Estonian press about Latvian developments
Mitu tuhat valitsuses pettunud lätlast takistas seimi saadikute teed tööle
19.10.2007 00:01Vahur Koorits, Postimees Evelyn Kaldoja, Postimees
Viha lokkava korruptsiooni, semupoliitika, oligarhide võimutsemise ja valitsejate ülbuse vastu tõid seni ükskõiksena püsinud lätlased tänavatele peaminister Aigars Kalvitise valitsust kõigutama. «Zatlers, saada seim laiali!», «Rahvaerakond on katastroof» ja «Tagane, õnnetu valitsus!», teatasid loosungid kella kaheksa ajal hommikul parlamendi juures seisnud umbes 5000 meeleavaldaja käes. Nad avaldasid meelt valitsuse otsuse vastu vallandada korruptsioonitõrje büroo juht Aleksejs Loskutovs.
Protestijate ridades seisid teiste seas ka mitmed populistliku opositsioonierakonda Uus Aeg kuuluvad poliitikud – näiteks endine peaminister Einars Repse. Selleks, et parlamendisaadikud tööle pääseksid, läks vaja kümnete politseinike jõupingutusi.
Tagasi aastas 1991
Meeleavaldusel käinud Riia Stradinsi ülikooli politoloogiaõppejõud Veiko Spolitis märkis Postimehele, et enamiku intelligentsi ja opositsioonierakondade täielik eiramine on viinud tagasi 1991. aasta algseisu, kus inimesed näevad, et riik varastatakse neilt nina eest ära.
Spolitise sõnul on päevapoliitiline märk juba see, kui USA saadik pidi esinema ja lätlastele selgitama, et nad ei tohi eirata väärtusi, tänu millele nad saavad olla ELi ja NATO liikmed lihtsalt kolme oligarhi pärast, kes parteides niite tõmbavad.
See näitab, et tavalised diplomaatilised kanalid on end juba ammendanud.
Jutud sellest, et USA suursaadik Catherine Todd Bailey kavatseb teisipäeval Riias Läti Ülikooli aulas esineda üsna karmisõnalise kõnega Läti poliitilisest olukorrast, hakkasid ringlema juba eelmise nädala lõpus.
See tähendas, et teisipäeval oli juba mõnda aega enne kõne algust aula nii täis, et turvamehed lasksid algse idee kohaselt ennekõike tudengitele mõeldud ettekannet kuulama vaid kutsetega inimesi.
Kohale saabunud diplomaatilise korpuse esindajate, poliitikute, ühiskonnateadlaste ja tudengite ees rullus lahti kõne, mille sarnast lätlased pärast taasiseseisvumist lääneriigi diplomaatidelt kuulnud polnud.
«Nüüd, vaid kolm aastat pärast ELi ja NATOga liitumist, leiab Läti end olulisest ajaloolisest sõlmpunktist. Mis saab olema tema tulevikutee?» küsis saadik. «Kas Läti jätkab reformide ja õigusriigi tugevdamise teel, suurendab läbipaistvust ning arendab end edasi vaba ja demokraatliku riigina?»
«Või otsustab Läti, turvaliselt ELis ja NATOs, et on raske töö ära teinud, ja laseb riigil saada üksikute inimeste mänguväljakuks, kuhu need suunduvad enda ja oma sõprade taskuid täitma?» jätkas Todd Bailey.
Saadik tõi ka konkreetseid näiteid asjadest, mis tema arvates ei peegelda just lätlaste ja ameeriklaste sarnaseid väärtushinnanguid.
Poliitilised grupeeringud
«Katsed täita kohtuid kohtunikega, «kes teavad, mida teha», püüded muuta julgeolekuteenistusi puudutavad seadused selliseks, et nende operatsioonidesse on võimalik rohkem poliitiliselt sekkuda,» loetles ta, «avalikud kampaaniad selleks, et diskrediteerida justiitssüsteemi ja õigusriiki.»
Todd Bailey märkis ka seda, et ta soovitab praegu USA firmadel Lätisse investeerida tänu selle suurepärasele ärikliimale ja headele tulevikuväljavaadetele.
Samas hoiatas ta, et peab vastama küsimustele ka selle kohta, kas investeeringud on kaitstud ja kas Lätis äri ajamine tähendab pidevat altkäemaksude andmist ning kas seal on toimiv õigusriik.
Saadiku sõnu selle kohta, kuidas Läti poliitikutele jagavad juhtnööre «valimata ametnikud pilvedest või merelt» tõlgendas Läti meedia viidetena vastavalt Rahvaerakonna ühele juhtpoliitikule Andris Skelele ja sadamalinna Ventspilsi meerile Aivars Lembergsile, kes on praegu korruptsioonisüüdistuse tõttu koduarestis.
«Lätis peame rääkima oligarhide parteidest, mis on turu omavahel ära jaganud» selgitas Spolitis. «Ühelt poolt võime rääkida Ventspilsi grupeeringust, teiselt poolt endise peaministri Skele grupeeringust ja sellele lisaks kolmanda väiksema oligarhi, praeguse transpordiministri Ainars Slesersi grupeeringust.»
Spolitise hinnangul süvendavad kriisi mitmed asjaolud, mis takistasid rahval riigi tegevuse vastu protesteerida. Näiteks loodi Lätis õiguskantsleri institutsioon alles sel kevadel ning kodanike sekkumine otsustetegemisse on siiani olnud harv.
«Ei olnud võimalik riigi toimimise vastu apelleerida. Kõik need asjad on jäänud Lätis tegemata ja nüüd valguvad nad päevavalgele ja tekitavad praegust revolutsioonilist olukorda,» lahkas Spolitis.
Diplomaadi sirgjoonelisus
Läti Ülikooli politoloogiadotsent Janis Ikstens tunnistas Postimehele, et kuigi ta ei tunne diplomaatilist protokolli nii hästi, et otsustada, kas Todd Bailey kõne oli midagi sobimatut või ei, oli saadiku sõnum vaieldamatult väga tõsine.
«See näitab ka seda, et USA saatkond on ammendanud tavalised diplomaatilised võtted – inimeste lõunale või õhtusöögile kutsumine, nendega rääkimise,» nentis Ikstens. «Sest me pole midagi sellist enne kogenud. See oli esimene kord, kui USA või üldse mõne lääneriigi suursaadik nii avameelseks muutus. Lääneriigid on tavaliselt madalat profiili hoidnud.»
Poliitikateadlane tõdes, et Vene saadikute puhul on selliseid väljaütlemisi küll kuuldud, aga neile ei pöörata nii väga tähelepanu.
Läti välisminister Artis Pabriks väitis pärast suursaadiku kõnet uudisteagentuurile LETA, et Todd Bailey kõne oli sõbralik, avatud ja vabariiklikus vaimus. Küsimusele, miks ükski valitsuse liige pilgeni täis aulasse saadiku juba varem kõmu tekitanud kõnet kuulama ei jõudnud, vastas Pabriks sõnadega: «See oli igaühe isiklik vaba valik.»
Ikstensi hinnangul on Läti poliitika märkimisväärselt alla käinud just viimase aasta jooksul, pärast mullu oktoobrikuus toimunud valimisi.
Ühe näitena tõi Ikstens pärast valimisi kohtusse jõudnud vaidlused. «Kohus tegi ühe väga veidra käigu ja ma ei oska seda muudmoodi nimetada kui poliitiliseks otsuseks,» jutustas politoloog. «Põhimõtteliselt öeldi, et tundub küll, et kaks erakonda on ületanud kulupiiri, kuid valimistulemusi ei pea tühistama, sest pole näha, et need rikkumised oleksid valimistulemusi mõjutanud.»
Üks neist parteidest, mille tulemusi Eesti rahas ligi 11 miljoni krooni suurused ülekulutused kohtu hinnangul ei mõjutanud, oli valimised võitnud Rahvaerakond.
Ikstensi sõnul oli see esimeseks väga halvaks signaaliks otse pärast valimisi. «Pärast seda nägime katset määrata ombudsman’i kohale üht väga ebasobivat kandidaati, kes kukkus läbi,» jätkas ta. «Ja siis valiti konstitutsioonikohtusse paar väga kummalist inimest. Siis tulid avalikuks need kurikuulsad telefonivestlused. Ja nüüd näeme me Loskutovsi afääri.»
Põhimõtteliselt on kõik juhtunud vaid ühe aasta jooksul. «On palju asju, mille pärast tuleb muret tunda,» nentis Ikstens. «Loomulikult toimuvad kolme aasta pärast valimised, aga seni...»
Spolitise sõnul ootavad lätlased nüüd peaministrit. «Võib-olla astub ta juba homme tagasi. Tundub, et ka koalitsioonis on lahkarvamusi, kas ta peaks tagasi astuma või ei» sõnas ta. «Tundub, et enamus on arvamusel, et Kalvitis on ka neile endile ja nende hüvede säilimisele liiga suureks probleemiks. Kui mitte homme, siis esmaspäeval astub valitsus kindlasti tagasi.»
Kalvitis sõitis koju
Eile Portugalis Euroopa Liidu riigi- ja valitsusjuhtide mitteametlikul tippkohtumisel viibinud Kalvitis otsustas visiidi pooleli jätta ning kodumaale naasta. Samas teatas ta ka seda, et kui parlament tuleval nädalal Loskutovsi ametist ei vabasta, astub tema tagasi.
Spolitise sõnul paistab praegu, et Loskutovs jääb ametisse. «Kui mitte, siis see toob kindlasti kaasa rahvamasside väga laialdased tänavateletulemised,» pakkus ta.
Läti parlament arutab Loskutovsi vallandamise soovi järgmisel nädalal, president Zatlers märkis, et sellest kujuneb ühtlasi ka valitsuse usaldushääletus.
©1995-2007 Postimees
19.10.2007 00:01Vahur Koorits, Postimees Evelyn Kaldoja, Postimees
Viha lokkava korruptsiooni, semupoliitika, oligarhide võimutsemise ja valitsejate ülbuse vastu tõid seni ükskõiksena püsinud lätlased tänavatele peaminister Aigars Kalvitise valitsust kõigutama. «Zatlers, saada seim laiali!», «Rahvaerakond on katastroof» ja «Tagane, õnnetu valitsus!», teatasid loosungid kella kaheksa ajal hommikul parlamendi juures seisnud umbes 5000 meeleavaldaja käes. Nad avaldasid meelt valitsuse otsuse vastu vallandada korruptsioonitõrje büroo juht Aleksejs Loskutovs.
Protestijate ridades seisid teiste seas ka mitmed populistliku opositsioonierakonda Uus Aeg kuuluvad poliitikud – näiteks endine peaminister Einars Repse. Selleks, et parlamendisaadikud tööle pääseksid, läks vaja kümnete politseinike jõupingutusi.
Tagasi aastas 1991
Meeleavaldusel käinud Riia Stradinsi ülikooli politoloogiaõppejõud Veiko Spolitis märkis Postimehele, et enamiku intelligentsi ja opositsioonierakondade täielik eiramine on viinud tagasi 1991. aasta algseisu, kus inimesed näevad, et riik varastatakse neilt nina eest ära.
Spolitise sõnul on päevapoliitiline märk juba see, kui USA saadik pidi esinema ja lätlastele selgitama, et nad ei tohi eirata väärtusi, tänu millele nad saavad olla ELi ja NATO liikmed lihtsalt kolme oligarhi pärast, kes parteides niite tõmbavad.
See näitab, et tavalised diplomaatilised kanalid on end juba ammendanud.
Jutud sellest, et USA suursaadik Catherine Todd Bailey kavatseb teisipäeval Riias Läti Ülikooli aulas esineda üsna karmisõnalise kõnega Läti poliitilisest olukorrast, hakkasid ringlema juba eelmise nädala lõpus.
See tähendas, et teisipäeval oli juba mõnda aega enne kõne algust aula nii täis, et turvamehed lasksid algse idee kohaselt ennekõike tudengitele mõeldud ettekannet kuulama vaid kutsetega inimesi.
Kohale saabunud diplomaatilise korpuse esindajate, poliitikute, ühiskonnateadlaste ja tudengite ees rullus lahti kõne, mille sarnast lätlased pärast taasiseseisvumist lääneriigi diplomaatidelt kuulnud polnud.
«Nüüd, vaid kolm aastat pärast ELi ja NATOga liitumist, leiab Läti end olulisest ajaloolisest sõlmpunktist. Mis saab olema tema tulevikutee?» küsis saadik. «Kas Läti jätkab reformide ja õigusriigi tugevdamise teel, suurendab läbipaistvust ning arendab end edasi vaba ja demokraatliku riigina?»
«Või otsustab Läti, turvaliselt ELis ja NATOs, et on raske töö ära teinud, ja laseb riigil saada üksikute inimeste mänguväljakuks, kuhu need suunduvad enda ja oma sõprade taskuid täitma?» jätkas Todd Bailey.
Saadik tõi ka konkreetseid näiteid asjadest, mis tema arvates ei peegelda just lätlaste ja ameeriklaste sarnaseid väärtushinnanguid.
Poliitilised grupeeringud
«Katsed täita kohtuid kohtunikega, «kes teavad, mida teha», püüded muuta julgeolekuteenistusi puudutavad seadused selliseks, et nende operatsioonidesse on võimalik rohkem poliitiliselt sekkuda,» loetles ta, «avalikud kampaaniad selleks, et diskrediteerida justiitssüsteemi ja õigusriiki.»
Todd Bailey märkis ka seda, et ta soovitab praegu USA firmadel Lätisse investeerida tänu selle suurepärasele ärikliimale ja headele tulevikuväljavaadetele.
Samas hoiatas ta, et peab vastama küsimustele ka selle kohta, kas investeeringud on kaitstud ja kas Lätis äri ajamine tähendab pidevat altkäemaksude andmist ning kas seal on toimiv õigusriik.
Saadiku sõnu selle kohta, kuidas Läti poliitikutele jagavad juhtnööre «valimata ametnikud pilvedest või merelt» tõlgendas Läti meedia viidetena vastavalt Rahvaerakonna ühele juhtpoliitikule Andris Skelele ja sadamalinna Ventspilsi meerile Aivars Lembergsile, kes on praegu korruptsioonisüüdistuse tõttu koduarestis.
«Lätis peame rääkima oligarhide parteidest, mis on turu omavahel ära jaganud» selgitas Spolitis. «Ühelt poolt võime rääkida Ventspilsi grupeeringust, teiselt poolt endise peaministri Skele grupeeringust ja sellele lisaks kolmanda väiksema oligarhi, praeguse transpordiministri Ainars Slesersi grupeeringust.»
Spolitise hinnangul süvendavad kriisi mitmed asjaolud, mis takistasid rahval riigi tegevuse vastu protesteerida. Näiteks loodi Lätis õiguskantsleri institutsioon alles sel kevadel ning kodanike sekkumine otsustetegemisse on siiani olnud harv.
«Ei olnud võimalik riigi toimimise vastu apelleerida. Kõik need asjad on jäänud Lätis tegemata ja nüüd valguvad nad päevavalgele ja tekitavad praegust revolutsioonilist olukorda,» lahkas Spolitis.
Diplomaadi sirgjoonelisus
Läti Ülikooli politoloogiadotsent Janis Ikstens tunnistas Postimehele, et kuigi ta ei tunne diplomaatilist protokolli nii hästi, et otsustada, kas Todd Bailey kõne oli midagi sobimatut või ei, oli saadiku sõnum vaieldamatult väga tõsine.
«See näitab ka seda, et USA saatkond on ammendanud tavalised diplomaatilised võtted – inimeste lõunale või õhtusöögile kutsumine, nendega rääkimise,» nentis Ikstens. «Sest me pole midagi sellist enne kogenud. See oli esimene kord, kui USA või üldse mõne lääneriigi suursaadik nii avameelseks muutus. Lääneriigid on tavaliselt madalat profiili hoidnud.»
Poliitikateadlane tõdes, et Vene saadikute puhul on selliseid väljaütlemisi küll kuuldud, aga neile ei pöörata nii väga tähelepanu.
Läti välisminister Artis Pabriks väitis pärast suursaadiku kõnet uudisteagentuurile LETA, et Todd Bailey kõne oli sõbralik, avatud ja vabariiklikus vaimus. Küsimusele, miks ükski valitsuse liige pilgeni täis aulasse saadiku juba varem kõmu tekitanud kõnet kuulama ei jõudnud, vastas Pabriks sõnadega: «See oli igaühe isiklik vaba valik.»
Ikstensi hinnangul on Läti poliitika märkimisväärselt alla käinud just viimase aasta jooksul, pärast mullu oktoobrikuus toimunud valimisi.
Ühe näitena tõi Ikstens pärast valimisi kohtusse jõudnud vaidlused. «Kohus tegi ühe väga veidra käigu ja ma ei oska seda muudmoodi nimetada kui poliitiliseks otsuseks,» jutustas politoloog. «Põhimõtteliselt öeldi, et tundub küll, et kaks erakonda on ületanud kulupiiri, kuid valimistulemusi ei pea tühistama, sest pole näha, et need rikkumised oleksid valimistulemusi mõjutanud.»
Üks neist parteidest, mille tulemusi Eesti rahas ligi 11 miljoni krooni suurused ülekulutused kohtu hinnangul ei mõjutanud, oli valimised võitnud Rahvaerakond.
Ikstensi sõnul oli see esimeseks väga halvaks signaaliks otse pärast valimisi. «Pärast seda nägime katset määrata ombudsman’i kohale üht väga ebasobivat kandidaati, kes kukkus läbi,» jätkas ta. «Ja siis valiti konstitutsioonikohtusse paar väga kummalist inimest. Siis tulid avalikuks need kurikuulsad telefonivestlused. Ja nüüd näeme me Loskutovsi afääri.»
Põhimõtteliselt on kõik juhtunud vaid ühe aasta jooksul. «On palju asju, mille pärast tuleb muret tunda,» nentis Ikstens. «Loomulikult toimuvad kolme aasta pärast valimised, aga seni...»
Spolitise sõnul ootavad lätlased nüüd peaministrit. «Võib-olla astub ta juba homme tagasi. Tundub, et ka koalitsioonis on lahkarvamusi, kas ta peaks tagasi astuma või ei» sõnas ta. «Tundub, et enamus on arvamusel, et Kalvitis on ka neile endile ja nende hüvede säilimisele liiga suureks probleemiks. Kui mitte homme, siis esmaspäeval astub valitsus kindlasti tagasi.»
Kalvitis sõitis koju
Eile Portugalis Euroopa Liidu riigi- ja valitsusjuhtide mitteametlikul tippkohtumisel viibinud Kalvitis otsustas visiidi pooleli jätta ning kodumaale naasta. Samas teatas ta ka seda, et kui parlament tuleval nädalal Loskutovsi ametist ei vabasta, astub tema tagasi.
Spolitise sõnul paistab praegu, et Loskutovs jääb ametisse. «Kui mitte, siis see toob kindlasti kaasa rahvamasside väga laialdased tänavateletulemised,» pakkus ta.
Läti parlament arutab Loskutovsi vallandamise soovi järgmisel nädalal, president Zatlers märkis, et sellest kujuneb ühtlasi ka valitsuse usaldushääletus.
©1995-2007 Postimees
End of elitist democracy? (updated)
Minister of Regional Affairs Aivars Štokenbergs was thrown out of the People's Party (TP) in absentia. In the TP council only Minister of Foreign Affairs, Artis Pabriks voted against such motion. To protest against his colleague's "execution" Mr Pabriks resigned from the post of Foreign Minister. Who could predict that end of just two days ago rock - solid governing coalition and TP would come to such a fast end? The speed of events is extraordinary but not surprising, if one looks retrospectively on Latvian domestic politics since October 2006. It was obvious to me that such coalition government cannot sustain its life forever. But I am still positively surprised about quick coming of an end.
Such development of events allows me to predict resignation of the PM today and possibly snap elections. Government coalition cannot be held together based on common interests - self-enrichment- because common values prevail over the temporary interests. Coalition partners repesent radica, traditional, conservative and liberal ideas, thus it is only obvious that it is falling apart in front of our eyes. Coalition Council should convene in an hour and most probably after the council meeting PM should resign.
Does it ring in the end of elitist democracy in Latvia? I very much hope so, because those 4000 people who came yesterday in front of Saeima is a sign, that spell of welfare oblivion is broken. However, the future of citizen's activity is very much in hands of opposition parties. If their activities would constructively lead to snap election it would really end the elitist and oligarchic emocracy in Latvia.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Artis Pabriks is talking on public radio and reiterates the news, that PM did not accept his resignation. To me suspicios news is the fact that PM has reminded the minister of foreign affairs that he must finalize the Latvian-Russian brder treaty exchange of documents. Does it mean that stability of the governing coalition was based on special agreement with Russia?
Koalīcija vienojas par budžetu, steigsies ar tā izskatīšanu
UPDATED
It is 15:00 CET and the coalition council meeting just ended. Governing coalition has agreed to pass the budget next Wedneday and then start discussions with trade unions. Weird not to say more, because rational way would be to have three party discussions (government, trade unions and employers confederation) within budget preparation process. LETA announced that budget is planned with 1% surplus. Latvian transport supremo Ainārs Šlesers announced that the wage increase could take place while curtailing the budget surplus. Policemen, teachers and doctors trade unions demand wage increase. Iresponsible government has lived to the point when they fight inflation by raising salaries to state officials. These policies are incompatible and government can blame itself for the lack of legitimacy, because nobody forced them to forge elections and usurp the power. Therefore, the end of present government saga would come next week right after there is high possibility for Saeima not to be able to pass next year's budget.
Such development of events allows me to predict resignation of the PM today and possibly snap elections. Government coalition cannot be held together based on common interests - self-enrichment- because common values prevail over the temporary interests. Coalition partners repesent radica, traditional, conservative and liberal ideas, thus it is only obvious that it is falling apart in front of our eyes. Coalition Council should convene in an hour and most probably after the council meeting PM should resign.
Does it ring in the end of elitist democracy in Latvia? I very much hope so, because those 4000 people who came yesterday in front of Saeima is a sign, that spell of welfare oblivion is broken. However, the future of citizen's activity is very much in hands of opposition parties. If their activities would constructively lead to snap election it would really end the elitist and oligarchic emocracy in Latvia.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Artis Pabriks is talking on public radio and reiterates the news, that PM did not accept his resignation. To me suspicios news is the fact that PM has reminded the minister of foreign affairs that he must finalize the Latvian-Russian brder treaty exchange of documents. Does it mean that stability of the governing coalition was based on special agreement with Russia?
Koalīcija vienojas par budžetu, steigsies ar tā izskatīšanu
UPDATED
It is 15:00 CET and the coalition council meeting just ended. Governing coalition has agreed to pass the budget next Wedneday and then start discussions with trade unions. Weird not to say more, because rational way would be to have three party discussions (government, trade unions and employers confederation) within budget preparation process. LETA announced that budget is planned with 1% surplus. Latvian transport supremo Ainārs Šlesers announced that the wage increase could take place while curtailing the budget surplus. Policemen, teachers and doctors trade unions demand wage increase. Iresponsible government has lived to the point when they fight inflation by raising salaries to state officials. These policies are incompatible and government can blame itself for the lack of legitimacy, because nobody forced them to forge elections and usurp the power. Therefore, the end of present government saga would come next week right after there is high possibility for Saeima not to be able to pass next year's budget.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Capuccino Revolution (updated)
It was a rainy morning in Riga and regardless of the early hour around 3000 to 4000 Latvian citizens gathered around the Saeima to protest against stealing the democratic state away from them. There is a flicker of hope and revolutionary fervor in the air. Because the peaceful demonstration ended prior cafe's opened the only place open was the French bakery next to the Riga military baracks. To drink capuccino amidst elated souls who came into bakery and see people getting in from the rainy street and taking hoods (capucco in Italian) off made me think about the name of the popular movement - CAPUCCINO REVOLUTION!
The PM already announced from Lisbon that he would not back off due to the popular pressure, and it would mean that popular pressure shall only increase. Just talking with ordinary citizens around Saeima made me realize, that it is a revolutionary awakening among the Latvian public. Naked cynicism of the political elite in yesterday's Kas notiek Latvijā? TV show was the last drop in the chalice of endurance. The show exposed how distant the governing elite is from an average voter. Arguments about suspending the head of the Anti-Corruption agency Mr Aleksejs Loskutovs were phony, and except Prosecutor General none of the government members had any tangible arguments. The most ironic issue with government suspending Mr Loskutovs was, that the only legal expert (Prosecutor general) was against his suspension, but legal amateurs, who did not really have arguments about his guilt still managed to vote against his mandate.
The Minister of Interior Ivars Godmanis admitted that PM and Mr Loskutovs could not work together, thus the reason why government voted almost unanimously (with Mr Broks abstaining and fired from his post immediately) was the fact that two gentelmen could not work together. Thus, Mr Godmanis admitted that after governmental vote the only option for future coexistence of Mr Kalvītis and Loskutovs is leaving the decision to Saeima, thus admitting, that if Saeima votes against government's motion then government must fall. Huh, huh, it is a tangible result from the situation just couple of days ago, when the coalition looked rock solid.
Opposition New Era (JL) and Reconciliation Centre (SC) parties demanded non-confidence vote on existing government today. Parliament was not ready to vote the suspension of Mr Loskutovs today. Members of the governing coalition have come out with admission, that the government of Mr Kalvītis is a liability, but asking to wait for PM to come back from Lisbon (he is flying in on Friday, October 19 at 22:00).
Prelude of the Capuccino Revolution already passed. It is important for opposituion JL and SC to coordinate their work and press the president to disband the parliament, because metamorphosis of the existing MP's into a new governing pack would lead nowhere. For managing the overheated economy and overhauling Soviet education, healthcare and public administration systems legitimacy of political system is needed. It is IMPOSSIBLE to achieve such tasks with the parliament where 11 members have been accused in corruptive deals by KNAB, when People's and First Christian parties illegaly "bought their votes" and stole elections in October 2006.
I believe capuccino is tasty enough for majority of Latvian citizens. Thus, be vigilant citizens, and after Saeima is going to be dispersed by president (unrelenting pressure of opposition parties and active involvement of citizenry needed) freedom loving citizens can deservedly allow to have a Capuccino Party!!!
UPDATED
It is 15:00 CET and http://www.diena.lv/ just announced that Latvian PM is cancelling the informal EU heads of states meeting in Portugal and returning back to Riga. President unexpectedly called People's Party (TP) and Union of Greens and Farmers to consult them for possible new premiership. It means that coalition has written incumbent PM off and government falls. The question is about new prime minister and there are miryad of candidates. Roberts Zīle (MEP and TB/LNNK) could be a good candidate, but would he be willing to give up tranquility of French rural surroundings for government overhaul of Latvia? His premiership could be the only hope for TB/LNNK to survive as an independent entity. Other coalition members do understand it and would TP reconcile the loss of premiership and possible bankruptcy of the party next week with their junior coalition party member (who actually screwed them by not accepting the position of the Minister of Economics) becoming PM, I doubt so. There are thus many disagreements among the coalition members, that dispersement of the Saeima is a lot more predictable outcome, even if it will take a depressingly long time. Eventually, time constraints (passing next year's budget) could actually make dispersing of the parliament a swiftly a'la cafe expresso!!
The PM already announced from Lisbon that he would not back off due to the popular pressure, and it would mean that popular pressure shall only increase. Just talking with ordinary citizens around Saeima made me realize, that it is a revolutionary awakening among the Latvian public. Naked cynicism of the political elite in yesterday's Kas notiek Latvijā? TV show was the last drop in the chalice of endurance. The show exposed how distant the governing elite is from an average voter. Arguments about suspending the head of the Anti-Corruption agency Mr Aleksejs Loskutovs were phony, and except Prosecutor General none of the government members had any tangible arguments. The most ironic issue with government suspending Mr Loskutovs was, that the only legal expert (Prosecutor general) was against his suspension, but legal amateurs, who did not really have arguments about his guilt still managed to vote against his mandate.
The Minister of Interior Ivars Godmanis admitted that PM and Mr Loskutovs could not work together, thus the reason why government voted almost unanimously (with Mr Broks abstaining and fired from his post immediately) was the fact that two gentelmen could not work together. Thus, Mr Godmanis admitted that after governmental vote the only option for future coexistence of Mr Kalvītis and Loskutovs is leaving the decision to Saeima, thus admitting, that if Saeima votes against government's motion then government must fall. Huh, huh, it is a tangible result from the situation just couple of days ago, when the coalition looked rock solid.
Opposition New Era (JL) and Reconciliation Centre (SC) parties demanded non-confidence vote on existing government today. Parliament was not ready to vote the suspension of Mr Loskutovs today. Members of the governing coalition have come out with admission, that the government of Mr Kalvītis is a liability, but asking to wait for PM to come back from Lisbon (he is flying in on Friday, October 19 at 22:00).
Prelude of the Capuccino Revolution already passed. It is important for opposituion JL and SC to coordinate their work and press the president to disband the parliament, because metamorphosis of the existing MP's into a new governing pack would lead nowhere. For managing the overheated economy and overhauling Soviet education, healthcare and public administration systems legitimacy of political system is needed. It is IMPOSSIBLE to achieve such tasks with the parliament where 11 members have been accused in corruptive deals by KNAB, when People's and First Christian parties illegaly "bought their votes" and stole elections in October 2006.
I believe capuccino is tasty enough for majority of Latvian citizens. Thus, be vigilant citizens, and after Saeima is going to be dispersed by president (unrelenting pressure of opposition parties and active involvement of citizenry needed) freedom loving citizens can deservedly allow to have a Capuccino Party!!!
UPDATED
It is 15:00 CET and http://www.diena.lv/ just announced that Latvian PM is cancelling the informal EU heads of states meeting in Portugal and returning back to Riga. President unexpectedly called People's Party (TP) and Union of Greens and Farmers to consult them for possible new premiership. It means that coalition has written incumbent PM off and government falls. The question is about new prime minister and there are miryad of candidates. Roberts Zīle (MEP and TB/LNNK) could be a good candidate, but would he be willing to give up tranquility of French rural surroundings for government overhaul of Latvia? His premiership could be the only hope for TB/LNNK to survive as an independent entity. Other coalition members do understand it and would TP reconcile the loss of premiership and possible bankruptcy of the party next week with their junior coalition party member (who actually screwed them by not accepting the position of the Minister of Economics) becoming PM, I doubt so. There are thus many disagreements among the coalition members, that dispersement of the Saeima is a lot more predictable outcome, even if it will take a depressingly long time. Eventually, time constraints (passing next year's budget) could actually make dispersing of the parliament a swiftly a'la cafe expresso!!
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