Latvija in brief - 2011-08-04

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Father Eduards Pavlovskis, the Parish Priest of Christ the King parish, Riga, as Bishop of Jelgava, reports Vatican Information Service. Fr. Eduards (61) was born in Bresne and ordained priest in 1975. Fr. Eduards has served in various parishes across the Riga Archdiocese and taught Polish, Greek and Philosophy at the National Seminary in Riga. In 1999 he was appointed to Christ the King parish in Riga where the present Archbishop of Riga, Zbignevs Stankevics, assisted, prior to becoming Archbishop last year. The Diocese of Jelgava was created in 1996 and Bishop Antons Justs was the first bishop of the diocese. Bishop Justs tendered his resignation aged 75, five years ago in accordance with the Church’s Canon Law (article 401). The resignation was only accepted this year. Bishop-elect Pavlovskis will be consecrated on Sept. 10 in Jelgava Cathedral.

Latvia’s elected official in Brussels, European Parliament member Alfreds Rubiks (Harmony Center), exclaimed that “I have never recognized Latvia’s occupation and I never will” on the LNT morning show ‘900 sekundes’ on Aug. 1, reports LETA. Following his own version of history, Rubiks explained that he will not recognize Latvia’s occupation because he believes that the country “was not occupied by the Soviet Union.” Rubiks added, despite the lack of any similarity, that external circumstances have forced Latvia to join the European Union and NATO, and borrow from the International Monetary Fund. The politician said that Harmony Center is ready to work in government, even if the party comes only second or third in the 11th Saeima elections this fall. Harmony Center will focus on creating new jobs and solving social problems, he claimed. Rubiks is chairman of Latvia’s Socialist Party which, together with the Social Democratic Party Harmony, forms the alliance Harmony Center.

Residents consider Auditor General Inguna Sudraba and Riga Mayor Nils Usakovs (Harmony Center) to be the most suitable prime minister candidates, reports LETA. A study carried out at the end of July by the market, social and media research company TNS Latvia in cooperation with LNT television, shows that 23 percent of the economically active population aged 18 to 55 mentioned Sudraba as the most suitable candidate for prime minister; 17 percent mentioned Riga Mayor Usakovs; 13 percent called for current Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis, and just as many for Ventspils Mayor Aivars Lembergs. A large number - 19 percent - had no opinion. The survey of 750 residents was carried out between July 26 and July 28. Latvijas fakti Director Aigars Freimanis believes that the choice of Usakovs as a prime minister candidate is an opportunity for the party to attract Latvian voters, as Usakovs has great communication with society, and he is more “refined” than the other Harmony Center candidate - Janis Urbanovics.