Opportunity Knocks for Zatlers
President George W. Bush meets with Latvia President Valdis Zatlers at the United Nations in New York. White House photo.
RIGA – As the formation of the new government suffers through birthing pains, Latvian President Valdis Zatlers (pictured) stands to make a name for himself.
Elected in June, the president hasn’t had a greater opportunity to show off what he is made of politically - whether he is the puppet of the four-party coalition that put him there or he is an independent thinker and a politician.
According to the Constitution, the president appoints – or taps in media lingo – the prime minister, who then tries to form a coalition government.
Since the December 5 resignation, the president has been thinking about his choice – after all, he doesn’t want to be wrong.
I’ve often often often made fun of Zatlers for his ability to put a foot in his mouth and the way he has been put in his office.
During press conferences, the man still looks like he’s wearing someone else’s suit. However, making a right decision in this case could bring him confidence and earn some political capital in the long-run.
Zatlers received so-called homework from the three officially nominated candidates. Today, however, the president consulted with three business leaders allowing media commentators to speculate that Zatlers may be considering someone who is not affiliated with any political force for the post.
But this is really an opportunity for Zatlers, who was appointed at the zoo and had not been a popular choice for the top position. The public perceived him as being the pocket of the ruling People’s Party until, perhaps, his surprising appearance during the Subdued Revolution in November.
Now is his chance to become the people’s president. If Zatlers appoints Harry Potter, a miserable choice for the prime minister, he will lose however little political capital he’d gained since he took office in July. If not, he’ll manage to unite the society behind someone else and gain from it greatly.
Now it’s all up to The Castle. Just don’t take too long.
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