Naglis - a litmus test for government stability

RIGA - Latvia's Minister of Economy Aigars Kalvitis, of the People's Party, is the third minister to have tried to oust Janis Naglis, the privatization agency's director general.

Vladimirs Makarovs of the Fatherland and Freedom party and minister of economy under People's Party Prime Minister Andris Skele took away Naglis' endorsement rights in April, 2000, but Skele reacted by dismissing Makarovs, thus inducing the collapse of his own government.

Laimonis Strujevics, minister of economy in the government of Fatherland and Freedom leader Guntars Krasts tried to accomplish the same feat as prime minister in November 1998, following parliamentary elections, but his government collapsed and the new prime minister, Vilis Kristopans of Latvia's Way, allowed Naglis to stay.

This time, it seems that the Naglis' affair will not affect the government's stability although tensions over Naglis' role are evident.

Latvia's current Prime Minister Andris Berzins has told reporters that Kalvitis' order to suspend Naglis' right to sign documents will not affect the government's stability although Kristiana Libane, head of Latvia's Way's parliamentary faction, has admitted that the issue is affecting relations between Latvia's Way and its coalition partner the People's Party.

Libane said Latvia's Way wanted to maintain the current composition of the government but "not at any cost." Developments in relations between the coalition partners, including the current tension in relations, are being affected by the upcoming general election as each party wants to show off itself, she said. "Relations are affected by the pre-election breeze, but it is possible to avert this little shootout," said Libane.

Another of Latvia's Way leading figures, MP Ivars Godmanis, said the People's Party's attempts to oust Naglis are aimed at ousting the government.

But Skele denied the accusations that his party wants the government to collapse, saying the Cabinet of Andris Berzins, a member of Latvia's Way, still has the support of People's Party lawmakers.

"We are not set to oust this government, and we want the prime minister to head it energetically," Skele said.

The Latvian ruling coalition consists of three mainstream political parties - Latvia's Way, the People's Party and the Fatherland and Freedom party, with the fourth partner, the tiny New Party, having a few minor ministerial posts.