Search for a president begins

  • 2011-02-23
  • From wire reports

NO VACANCY: The guessing game has started over who will be the next president.

RIGA - Latvian intellectuals name writer Anna Zigure, University of Latvia Rector Marcis Auzins and European Court of Justice Judge Egils Levits as the most suitable presidential candidates for this year’s new presidential appointment, reports news agency LETA. Social anthropologist Dagmara Beitnere said that it is necessary to listen to the opinion of various society groups on the president’s qualities. “As a social anthropologist, I interview people and know their current mood and their expectations from the state. An encouraging speech from the president always inspires the populace,” said Beitnere.

She claims that currently, the community has lost faith in democracy and the Latvian state. If President Valdis Zatlers will mend his ways, then he will be able to restore this faith. “However, Zatlers has made many mistakes, which have had a negative impact on the nation’s self-confidence. The president must lead by example and show that he, just like everyone else, is saving money. I would like to see from the president an inner and cultural solidarity,” said Beitnere.
Zigure was chosen due to her vast cultural and historical knowledge. Her post-war experience is common with the nation; she has her hand on society’s pulse.

According to Beitnere, the president must also be an intellectual leader, who can precisely speak to the people. She notes that many nations in Europe choose writers as their presidents. The Czech Republic chose Vaclav Havel, and French presidents after Charles de Gaulle were also writers. Beitnere believes that in Latvia, the president is listening to his advisors more than delivering his own speeches.

The All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK (VL-TB/LNNK) party has not yet named a possible candidate for president, but it feels that Zatlers should be replaced with someone who can “revive the Latvian spirit.” MP Imants Paradnieks said that VL-TB/LNNK wants a person in the high office with a “stronger stance and soul.” He did note that Zatlers has “tried very hard, and grown into the office in four years,” but now, “a new type of person is necessary.” The VL-TB/LNNK Saeima deputy specifically criticized Zatlers’ Moscow visit and its results, which had swayed the party to seek another president.
VL-TB/LNNK’s head at the Saeima, Raivis Dzintars, said that former Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga was a good model, as one who was able to influence a person’s values, way of thinking, pride and self-confidence.

If President Zatlers decides to run for a second term, he will be “one of the strongest candidates,” Ventspils Mayor Aivars Lembergs, chairman of For Latvia and Ventspils - a member of the Union of Greens and Farmers, said in an interview with LNT television on Feb. 14. Lembergs said he was convinced that there will also be other presidential candidates, and that even if they are not officially nominated, they will at least be publicly discussed.

In criticizing non-transparent past campaigns which led to the appointing of Latvia’s presidents, Beitnere lauds Saeima Speaker Solvita Aboltina’s (Unity) suggestion to create a public council, which will evaluate the presidential candidates, so that the next president would not be chosen in “the zoo.”

Zatlers will hold office until July 7, 2011, and according to the Presidential Election Law, Saeima must hold presidential elections no later than 30 days before the expiration of the current president’s powers. Therefore, the session will be held no later than June 8.