RIGA - Latvian opposition party New Era has dismissed an invitation to join the ruling coalition government, saying the offer is pointless unless Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis stands down.
Godmanis' Latvia's First Party/Latvia's Way (LPP/LC) issued an invitation to New Era to join the government as part of a plan to expand the coalition by involving opposition parties, following talks between the parties on Jan. 26.
Spokesman and former head of New Era Krisjanis Karins dismissed the invitation as nothing more than a "symbolic" gesture that would bring little meaningful change.
"It changes nothing... The [ruling] coalition would still have the majority vote and all decision making would be in the same hands. We are not interested in being a crutch for the government. This is nothing more than empty talk," Karins told The Baltic Times.
Negotiations on a new Latvian reconciliation government remain ongoing following President Valdis Zatlers' Jan. 21 ultimatum delivered to parliament, and has sparked a wave of intense political maneuvering.
Zatlers has threatened to dissolve the government if key demands are not met by March 31.
Amendments to the current law on elections, the implementation of direct policy to support the country's future economic development and the reorganization of the cabinet and ministry structure were among the demands outlined by the president in the wake of mass riots in Riga earlier this month.
Zatlers has also called for the immediate appointment of a director for KNAB, the country's prominent anti-corruption bureau, which has been without a leader for more than six months.
While both the ruling coalition and opposition representatives are involved in the discussions, there remains broad disagreement on the guiding principles in which a new government should be formed.
MIXED MESSAGES
The conditions set out in the president's ultimatum had previously drawn strong criticism from the ruling coalition, which maintains it is not practical to disband parliament given the current uncertain economic situation.
"We cannot stop our work…It would be unacceptable for the government to just stop functioning at one moment, with negotiations being held in an uncertain situation on setting up a new government," Godmanis told the Baltic News Service.
Meanwhile Karins has accused the ruling coalition of continuing to sabotage negotiations with misleading public statements and political jostling.
"Right now the ruling coalition is putting out mixed messages to confuse the issue, which should be fresh parliamentary elections and a clear, guiding economic policy," said Karins.
"This is a government that has lost the public's support and trust and the best way to restore confidence is for a complete change. We have zero faith they can change their behavior," he added.
Karins also called on the president to make clear his position on the formation of a new government, saying ongoing uncertainty was hampering the negotiation process.
Zatlers reportedly side-stepped media questions on the stability of the existing government following the Jan. 26 meeting.
"It is not wholly clear now where the president stands on the issue of fresh parliamentary elections. There are still a lot of unknowns about how this will take effect," said Karins.
Despite the apparent stalemate between the ruling and opposition parties, the prime minister told BNS he remained optimistic that both political sides could reach a compromise on other issues identified by the president.
NO SATISFACTION
Continued economic hardship and political uncertainty in Latvia erupted in mass riots that recently saw mobs of youth attempt to storm parliament and destroy property. The violent outpouring, which attracted international headlines, came at the end of a peaceful demonstration on Jan. 13 calling for parliament to be dissolved.
A recent survey has revealed 91 percent of Latvians distrust political parties. Researchers noted the general lack of trust crossed all sectors of society, age groups, gender and regions.
The figure is the highest in the entire European Union, according to the latest Eurobarometer study.
The survey also found that as many as 61 percent of Latvian citizens believe their country is heading in the wrong direction, with inflation, the economic situation and unemployment named as the largest problems.
Meanwhile 23 percent believe that people's lives will get worse during the next 12 months.
Pollsters surveyed 1,002 Latvian citizens over the age of 15 between Oct. 6 and Nov. 6, 2008. It is the ninth survey conducted since Latvia became an EU member.
Latvia is among the hardest hit countries by the worldwide economic meltdown and is currently experiencing spiraling bankruptcy and unemployment rates.
A recent European Commission report predicts Latvia's GDP is set to shrink by 6.9 percent in 2009 and a further 2.4 percent in 2010.
After a golden era of growth and investment, the country is now faced with the reality of economic ruin.
Many Latvians have laid the blame for the country's current economic troubles squarely at the feet of the ruling government.
This was acknowledged by the president, who said the implementation of political and institutional reforms was paramount to restoring public faith in political processes.
"It is very important to finish all those tasks that should facilitate trust in the parliament and government within society as well as to work out a specific stimulation plan," a presidential spokeswoman recently told The Baltic Times.
The president, who is at Swiss ski resort Davos until Feb.1 to attend the annual World Economic Forum, is expected to highlight Latvia's situation in a global context.
This year's forum is focused entirely on the global implications of the economic crisis.
Participants, including 42 heads of state and government as well as numerous state officials, business leaders and experts will lead discussions on managing the current crisis and shaping the entire post-crisis agenda, from economic reform to climate change.
