Would anyone like to be Prime Minister?

Dec 12, 2007
In cooperation with BNS

BOOK Of SPELLS: Zalans has been dubbed 'Harry Potter' by the media, which he has already managed to alienate (Photo: Leta)

RIGA – Latvian President Valdis Zatlers continued his search for a new prime minister on Dec. 11 and 12 with a succession of potential candidates arriving at Riga castle to be interviewed about the vacancy.

First, Zatlers met with People’s Party nominee Edgars Zalans, Ivars Godmanis from Latvia's First Party and Latvia's Way (LPP/LC) and Valdis Dombrovskis of New Era, each of whom delivered a prospectus for their first 100 days in office, if selected.

A day later, Zatlers called in three leading figures from the world of business to discuss the situation in the country with them. Opinions remain divided on whether or not Zatlers is also considering them as potential candidates for the premiership or whether he wanted to draw on their economic expertise to help him appraise the three prospectuses presented to him.

The three business figures are Aivis Ronis, head of the Latvian-American Financial Forum, Martins Bondars, president of Latvijas Krajbanka, and Andris Berzins, president of the Latvian Chamber of Industry.

All the three of them said after the talks that they have not received any proposals, only discussed the situation in the country.

Coalition representatives voiced surprise at the president’s unexpected action, saying that a neutral candidate might hinder the formation of a new government.

Meanwhile outgoing Latvian Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis, denied that there is a political crisis in the country and insisted that Zatlers should chose one of the three party political candidates.

Kalvitis told the press after a meeting with Zatlers that the People's Party has named its candidate and will defend its position.

However, People’s Party candidate Edgars Zalans has already seriously undermined his bid for power by admitting that he never reads newspapers in case their “negative” comments upset him.

He then compounded the appearance of being somewhat divorced from reality by announcing that he would not participate on the top-rated talk show ‘What’s Happening in Latvia?’ either this week or at any other time.

In an interview with Private Life magazine, Zalans claimed he does not watch Domburs' show, said he would never take part in the show himself and would do everything to prevent others from participating. Zalans went on to say that Latvia's politicians have “gone nuts”.

Commenting on Domburs - the best-known journalist in the country - the prime ministerial hopeful said: "The guy has real problems, that's for sure."

In response, Domburs told the BNE news service: "In a free country, we are free to express our opinion. It seems to me that this man has voiced his position quite clearly. The Latvian public now has a great opportunity to assess Zalans' knowledge of the situation in Latvia when he does not read the press," Domburs said.

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