Latvian President Berzins will not run for second term

Latvian President Andris Berzins has announced, after a period of consideration, that he will not run for a second term.

Berzins notes in a statement to the media that, taking office on July 8, 2011, he pledged to do everything in his power to make every resident of Latvia believe in their country and themselves, so decisions taken by the government and Saeima (Latvian Parliament) would foster the country's development, reduce the disparities between Latvia's different regions, and create an environment where people would want to live, study, and work.

"I have been working to the best of my ability to pursue these goals, in close cooperation with the parliament, government, municipalities, businessmen, and residents who shared their opinions, supported and criticised me," Berzins said in his statement.

However, the President pointed out, that many people in Latvia are still choosing to leave their homes, either to go abroad or to move to a city, as in many regions wages are meagre and there are few job openings.

"The future of Latvia depends on the level of education our people have, competitiveness, and regional policy that will help create such environment where people will want to live and work," notes the president. "During the next ten years, Latvia has to achieve at least the European Union's average level of gross domestic product per capita. Economy and social security are inextricably linked to each other."

The president also notes that the geopolitical situation in Europe has changed, and residents are justifiably worried about peace; therefore every country has to act to bolster their defence capacity for greater security. The new reality will be one of the priorities on the next president's agenda. "I believe in wise, equable, and reasonable policies that should prevent any kind of shock, aggression, and serious conflict in Europe," says the president's statement.

"I thank you all for cooperation, support, constructive criticism and integrity, in everything that we have achieved for the good of Latvia during these four years," Berzins concluded in his statement.

This is the first time since the restoration of independence that a president has decided, of his own free will, not to run for a second term. Since 1991, Berzins's predecessor Valdis Zatlers has been the only president to serve just one term - although the political parties represented in the 10th Saeima had originally said they would vote for him, he was not re-elected. Berzins became president after Zatlers announced in May 2011, he would use his powers to initiate a referendum on the dissolution of the Saeima, after the parliament refused to approve the searching of the house of a member of parliament. In the presidential election a month later, Berzins, previously a member of parliament for the Greens and Farmers' Union, unexpectedly defeated Zatlers.

As reported, coalition parties have been in talks to agree on one joint candidate.