All About Latvia

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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Traditionally, 1st of September marks the beginning of the new academic year. Students go back to schools to meet teachers. When I went to school it was customary to bring flowers to the teacher. It was, after all, a day of teacher celebration.

This year, the day also marks the beginning of the next stage of the implementation of the hard-fought education reform under which 60 percent of 10th grade classes taught in minority — mainly Russian — schools are to be taught in Latvian.

During the summer, the Ministry of Education touted that vast majority of schools are ready for the reform. There are well-trained teachers. There are well-written textbooks. While the pro-Russian Shtab says that it is the duty of the state to provide the education in the minority language to the minority.

Beginning on August 23, the Shtab planned a two-week long stint of protests downtown Riga, whereby the shtab claims they would inform the public of the reform and what it does to the minority education. Two members of the organization went on hunger strike. The Shtab also calls for students not to attend schools on September 2, the first day of classes.

At the same time, worried about the ethnic tensions on the first school day the Latvian government invited several rock bands — a Russian band called Bi2 and a famous Latvian band Prāta Vētra (<a href=”http://www.brainstorm.lv/”>”The Brainstorm”</a>) — to perform in a concert. However, the Russian band refused to come when its manager found out why they were really invited. Prāta Vētra refused to perform as well, probably due to its loss of the lead singer in the car accident this summer.

In an interview to Rigas Balss on August 23, the adviser to the minister of education in the questions of minority education, Sergejs Anchupovs, said that for ethnic Latvians the reform means that minorities will be able to learn the Latvian language, whereas the oppenents of the reform, obviously, do not want to learn the language.

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