RIGA 's Aigars Kalvitis has survived the first in a series of crucial
votes that will dictate his political future. Kalvitis carried the day
early on Oct. 23 in a hastliy-convened no-confidence vote in the
Latvian parliament, the Saeima.
Following a three-hour debate, 38 MPs voted against Kalvitis while 56
supported him. One member, Visvaldis Lacis, abstained from voting and
there were five no-shows.
The vote represents a boost for Kalvitis' chances of staying on after a
decidedly shaky week that saw the resignation of Foreign Minister Artis
Pabriks, the sacking and expulsion of another minister, Aigars
Stokenbergs, and mass demonstrations outside parliament.
With no defections at all from the four governing coalition parties,
Kalvitis can claim that his administration remains united and will turn
to the next task on the agenda 's trying to get parliament to approve
his 2008 budget proposals. A vote on that crucial issue will take place
on Wed. 24 Oct.
The prime minister, in power since December 2004, defended his decision to suspend Loskutovs before the vote.
"Did I act correctly from the point of view of political convenience? Possibly not," he said. "Still, I consider this to be the most honest action in the long term."
Those words represent a significant shift in his strategy to retain power. Until now, it has been the opposition claiming that they have been acting on matters of principle, but it seems that Kalvitis will now attempt to portray himself as a man prepared to take tough and unpopular decisions even if they result in causing severe political damage to himself.
The government is expected to face a third crucial test when lawmakers vote on the proposal to sack Aleksejs Loskutovs, head of the KNAB anti-corruption bureau . No date has yet been set for that ballot.
"It is very difficult to imagine that this government will work the full term," said Krisjanis Karins, co-chairman of the opposition New Era party.
