Murniece: Slanderous attack against ex-president Vike-Freiberga is attempt to discredit institution of presidency

RIGA - Saeima speaker Inara Murniece (National Alliance) has issued an appeal calling for a respectful attitude to the institution of the Latvian presidency.

“The president of Latvia is one of the national symbols. The institution of the presidency plays a significant role in the system of Latvia as a democratic and parliamentary republic. Today we are seeing attempts to discredit it by turning against ex-president Vaira Vike-Freiberga,” the Saeima press office quoted Murniece as saying.

The Saeima speaker said that the president of Latvia is the highest state official symbolizing the unity of the people and the state. “The role of the institution of the presidency is to ensure balance among the legislative, executive arms and the judiciary. Anyone whom the parliament has entrusted this office is aware that this is a lifetime office – even when the office term has formally ended, this person still bears enormous responsibility and continues to represent the people and the state,” the speaker said.

“The insults and disgraceful rhetoric that have lately appeared in the media are an attempt to weaken our state,” Murniece believes, adding that former presidents deserve to be treated with respect.

As reported, a number of politicians representing Latvia’s ruling coalition believe that the media fuss started over former President Vaira Vike-Freiberga’s purchase of a burial plot in the closed Riga 1st Meza cemetery is an unacceptable attack on a national symbol.

Latvia’s Diena daily recently reported that Vike-Freiberga had obtained a burial plot in Riga 1st Meza cemetery not far from the grave of first Latvian President Janis Cakste even though this is a partly closed cemetery as it has already run out of burial space. This means that new burial plots are no longer available in this cemetery.