RSSAnother challenge for Dombrovskis
Mar 22
The Dombrovskis government 7 Comments
Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis speaks the media. Photo courtesy of Valsts Kanceleja.
RIGA – Speaking recently at a press conference on the eve of the first anniversary in office, Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis said the power “fell at his feet” after the political parties in the previous coalition avoided taking leadership of this country in the middle of the worst economic disaster of the last 20 years. He picked up the baton, doing what needed to be done – however unpopular it was – explaining to the public why his government has had to make tough choices that don’t win elections.
If one is to believe the polls, his tenure as the prime minister so far has been a successful one – people generally have the impression that Dombrovskis, 38, is trying to do the right thing for his country. According to a poll by GFK, 41 percent of the public support Dombrovskis, a high degree of popularity for the prime minister amidst lack of credibility to the government and the most severe economic crisis since Latvia broke free from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Today as four ministers from the leading and bleeding People’s Party submitted their letters of resignation, it created another golden opportunity for Dombrovskis to show his skills for compromise and creativity in search of a political consensus, ahead of the October election. A crisis fosters creativity. For the first time in Latvia’s modern history, political creativity and the government’s ability to negotiate with opposition and seek consensus will be important in the coming six months.
And it began at the end of last week, when Dombrovskis met with the motley crew, known as the Harmony Centre. The Dombrovskis’ coalition is planning a meet with Šleserites from Latvia’s First/Latvia’s Way this week. He’s also meeting with the pro-Russian PCTVL, trying to round up support for the government’s initiatives that would not jeopardize the 7.5 billion euro program. In one sense, the future of this country depends on him.
Branislaw
Mar 24, 2010 @ 23:45:09
You describe Harmony Center as a “motley crew”. Why is this? They have a well-crafted centrist platform and a highly educated leader, Nil Ushakov. They have a diverse pan-European trained, and global-friendly composition.
As opposed to New Era who are literally an isolationist-nationalist, homogeneous party all educated at the University of Latvia (not a positive), led by Dombrovskis, who is neither incisive, nor cogent, and lacks poignancy.
Bronislaw Jedrzejewicz
Toronto, Canada
Aleks
Mar 25, 2010 @ 10:55:10
Bronislaw:
What parties make up the Harmony Center?
PS Dombrovskis is not the New Era party leader.
Baron Tornakalns
Mar 26, 2010 @ 21:24:32
Branislaw has a point – after all Harmony Center parliamentary leader Janis Urbanovics was recently described as “one of the greatest politicians of modern times.” Unfortunately the person describing him thus was Boris Spiegel who is not exactly a walking billboard for statesmanship.
Dombrovskis may indeed be neither incisive, cogent nor, er, poignant but he is at least competent and – by all available evidence – honest, which puts him several light years ahead of most Latvian prime ministers of recent years.
Incidentally, that guy sitting in the front row on the left has a curiously familiar head of hair…
Bronislaw
Mar 27, 2010 @ 01:19:52
“…Boris Spiegel who is not exactly a walking billboard for statesmanship.”
And what of our favourite corrupt doctor? Head of state? hmm…. Bravo Latvia!
Shitocracy at its most brilliant!
(And yes to be an effective leader one must have a sense of dignified poignancy, he on the other hand is an enslaved robot, I have heard he is mocked in Brussels.)
Bronislaw Jedrzejewicz
Toronto, Canada
Pierre
Apr 09, 2010 @ 15:56:46
“…I have heard he is mocked in Brussels.”
Can you substantiate this?
Asehpe
Apr 18, 2010 @ 03:32:53
Probably not.
I can’t think of a better Latvian PM than Dombrovskis. As for heads of state, sure Vike-Freiberga was way better; but since the real problems are being dealt with by the PM, I think you can stomach Zatlers’ lack of poise.
Funny you should want poignancy. Speaking for myself, I prefer results. If Krusty the Clown is honest, competent, and does what needs doing, I don’t mind having him as a president.
Nils Usakovs is OK, as far as I can see; but he is no Dombrovskis.