UMBRELLA DEMOCRACY: Around 5,000 demonstrators, among them popular actors, journalists and lawmakers, braved the wet weather to voice their opposition to the government's actions.
RIGA - Thousands of embittered Latvian residents poured out onto the streets on Oct. 18 to protest against recent government actions and call for the resignation of Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis in what was one of the largest political protests since the country gained independence.
The 5,000-strong demonstration was organized on Oct. 17 by the leading Latvian-language daily Diena in conjunction with a number of prominent Latvian citizens, including popular actors, journalists, opposition lawmakers, European Parliament members, foreign policy specialists and powerful economists.
The protest was sparked by the prime minister's decision to suspend the country's leading anti-corruption official, Aleksejs Loskutovs. The Cabinet of Ministers voted to support an outright sacking of the anti-corruption official in a closed session on Oct. 16.
The protest is part of a widening scandal surrounding Loskutovs' suspension which has nearly brought the government to its knees (see story, Page 1). Protesters called for a break up of the Kalvitis-led government and for the president to dissolve Parliament. They also demanded that prominent People's Party member Andris Skele 's widely regarded as one of the most powerful men in Latvian politics 's be taken to court over long-standing accusations of fraud.
The signatories of the call to protest argued that "[The] rule of law is endangered in Latvia. This means the Latvian state is endangered! By turning against KNAB head Aleksejs Loskutovs, the Latvian government crossed 'the red line.' The government, based on selfish reasons, wants to take revenge on KNAB, which is efficient in its fight with the ones wishing to steal the state and people's welfare. This must not be permitted."
Protesters wielded signs reading "Kalvitis 's go home," and, "If the government is ruled by money, it is ruled by gangsters." When ruling coalition lawmakers arrived at Parliament, they were greeted with shouts of "traitor" and "down with Kalvitis."
The prime minister suspended the anti-corruption chief in mid-September over alleged "continued and serious violations concerning the use and accounting of operative financial resources" on the part of the anti-corruption bureau.
