All About Latvia

RIGA – Today marks the rebirth of the independent Latvia. Eighteen years ago the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic adopted a resolution restoring the Baltic nation’s independence after 50 years of Soviet occupation.

For some Latvians, the last 18 years have been disappointing.

Husbands leave their wives and children to make a living picking mushrooms in Ireland. Pensioners continue to struggle to get by on trifling pennies as they watch prices rise. Perception of government corruption continues to persist from almost every corner of the state apparatus. And most importantly, people feel left out of the important decision-making.

Latvia’s independence movement in late 1980s became known as the Third Atmoda, the Awakening. People were filled with hope for the rebirth of the nation, treasuring each moment of that freedom. After years of oppression and tyranny, ethnic Latvians were finally getting their country back. Certainly, no one woke up on May 5, 1990, realizing that they were living in a different country. The change came gradually - one by one.

The resolution established the basic principles that were to guide this country domestically and internationally.

The courageous move on the part of the de facto parliament back in 1990 could not have taken place in today’s Latvia. The current members of the Saeima in the ruling coalition are discipled to vote as their bosses – in Riga, not in Moscow – tell them, creating an atmosphere of political cynicism and public distrust. In 2007 Latvians celebrated the Fourth of May heading into a referendum on the confusing, revoked national security laws. It legally failed because voters tended their summer homes.

This year, the Fourth of May arrives at the time when two grass-root campaigns are before discontented Latvian public. As the International Monetary Fund observers said this week, the public trust in the current government is low.

Within weeks the parliament is set to consider a legislation - initiated by the Latvian Labor Unions - to give the voters the power to dissolve the parliament and call early elections. On the other hand, a group called “Society for different politics” (Sabiedrība citai politikai -SCP), led by former minister of economy Aigars Štokenbergs and former foreign minister Artis Pabriks, is urging people to sign up an initiative to amend the pensions laws. The signature drive concludes May 15. They already forced the government to raise pensions once in April, then another raises are coming up in June and October.

Regardless whether these two initiatives get approved or rejected, they have already sent a strong message to the cynical government. Will it listen? - that’s another question.

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In an interview to the Russian-language daily Вести Сегодня (Vesti Segodnya) Latvia’s Deputy Prime Minister Ainars Šlesers says he thinks it is possible that George Soros wants to create its own party to seek power control in Latvia. After the country’s ascension to the European Union and taking into consideration its economy and geographic location, Latvia is becoming more attractive for foreign businesses, Šlesers said. Šlesers did not exclude Soros wish to influence the politics on the level of the European Union as well.

“You don’t have to tell me that Mr. Soros is merely a businessman,” Šlesers told the newspaper. “As practice tells us, he influences political processes all over the world.” Šlesers’ Latvian First Party (LPP) remained in the ruling coalition after the collapse of the previous government led by Einars Repse. Yet, the ruling coalition is thought to be involved in corruption.

The scandal erupted after Latvia’s Prime Minister Indulis Emsis’ abrupt decision to remove from the post of European Commissioner Sandra Kalniete, an internationally respected diplomat, appointed by Repse. In her place, Emsis, from the Green and Farmer’s Union (ZZS), selected a self-proclaimed euro-skeptic and a relative novice in politics, Parliament Speaker, Ingrida Udre, who also belongs to ZZS.

Latvia’s chapter of Transparency International, Delna, voiced its opposition to Emsis’ decision through an unsanctioned protest in front of the parliament building in Riga on August 10. Delna opposed Udre’s nomination to the European Commission because it suspected Udre has been involved in corruption.

The procedure of nomination strengthens the impression of political corruption in Latvia, Delna explained its actions in the press release published on its site. Political corruption is one of the aspects of the Latvian politics most criticized in different researches and surveys.

Founded in 1998, Delna’s aims to further the evolution of civil society, promoting transparency of information and the reduction of corruption.

Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau urged the state prosecutor’s office to start a criminal case against Udre’s bodyguard Zigmars Rubenis, who is suspected to be a middle man in taking and delivering a $4,000 bribe.

In August, Udre’s popularity rating fell from 12 to 22 points, according to the survey conducted by Latvijas Fakti on August 13 to 24.

Šlesers told the newspaper that Delna’s leader Roberts Putnis is in direct connection “with Soros and his people” and Putnis receives “direct orders on how to fight against the government.”
Latvia’s president, Vaira Vike-Freiberga, whose rating also fell in August, expressed confusion about the “illegal activities of the public organization.”

“I was surprised by the very emotional and heightened reaction that even lead to an unsanctioned protest. It is especially unacceptable that an organization acts illegally, though its goals are the promotion of democratic standards in the country, the president said. The president asserted that non-government organizations could express their opinion, but it does not mean that others have to listen.

On August 12, the incoming European Union Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso announced the list of his new Commissioners. Representing Latvia, Udre will be the Taxation and Customs Union Comissioner.

LPP along with ZZS form the ruling coalition, but due to the lack of majority in the 100-member parliament, they must heavily rely on the support of the pro-Russian leftist parties in the parliament.

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Baltic News Service reports that Latvia’s eurosceptics and euro-optimists has a little rumble near the highest point in Latvia on Friday. The movement “Independence Outside the European Union” known as Ne ES, or No to EU! fought with European Movement in Latvia (EKL).

The reason: whether or not to wave the EU flag on the tower located on the highest point in Latvia.

The winner: EKL.

When I re-told this incident to my friend from Denmark, she exclaimed, “Why couldn’t they just talk?”

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