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| Rally demands new Latvian polls | Rally demands new Latvian polls |
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| At least 7,000 Latvians have rallied peacefully in the capital, Riga, to call for the government to step down and for action against corruption. | At least 7,000 Latvians have rallied peacefully in the capital, Riga, to call for the government to step down and for action against corruption. |
| It was the second large protest in two weeks against a cabinet widely condemned for trying to dismiss the head of the anti-corruption agency. | It was the second large protest in two weeks against a cabinet widely condemned for trying to dismiss the head of the anti-corruption agency. |
| Auditors recently detected financial irregularities in the agency. | Auditors recently detected financial irregularities in the agency. |
| But opposition figures say that was an excuse to stop it investigating people close to the prime minister. | But opposition figures say that was an excuse to stop it investigating people close to the prime minister. |
| The political crisis in Latvia has led to growing speculation that the coalition government could collapse. | The political crisis in Latvia has led to growing speculation that the coalition government could collapse. |
| Correspondents say Saturday's demonstration was one of biggest since Latvia gained independence from the USSR in 1991. | Correspondents say Saturday's demonstration was one of biggest since Latvia gained independence from the USSR in 1991. |
| It is just over a year since Latvia's last parliamentary election in which Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis won a historic second term. | It is just over a year since Latvia's last parliamentary election in which Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis won a historic second term. |
| President's appeal | President's appeal |
| Mr Kalvitis, who leads a centre-right coalition, suspended anti-corruption chief Aleksejs Loskutovs in late September in a move which took many by surprise. | Mr Kalvitis, who leads a centre-right coalition, suspended anti-corruption chief Aleksejs Loskutovs in late September in a move which took many by surprise. |
| Aleksejs Loskutovs heads the anti-corruption agency since 2004 | Aleksejs Loskutovs heads the anti-corruption agency since 2004 |
| Last week, he withdrew his decision but the government has lost three ministers in connection with the affair. | Last week, he withdrew his decision but the government has lost three ministers in connection with the affair. |
| President Valdis Zatlers has called on the government to resign after a budget vote next week. | President Valdis Zatlers has called on the government to resign after a budget vote next week. |
| "The president believes that the government would be honest if it resigned as a whole after the acceptance of the state budget," a presidential spokeswoman said. | "The president believes that the government would be honest if it resigned as a whole after the acceptance of the state budget," a presidential spokeswoman said. |
| Mr Zatlers joined the rally on Saturday, urging demonstrators to abide by the constitution, the Associated Press news agency reports. | Mr Zatlers joined the rally on Saturday, urging demonstrators to abide by the constitution, the Associated Press news agency reports. |
| "We should not play with democracy," he said in a speech interrupted several times by demonstrators' calls to dissolve parliament. | "We should not play with democracy," he said in a speech interrupted several times by demonstrators' calls to dissolve parliament. |
| The rally backed an appeal to the government to ensure the independence of the legal system and fight corruption, Reuters reports. | The rally backed an appeal to the government to ensure the independence of the legal system and fight corruption, Reuters reports. |
| Your comments: | Your comments: |
| The rally in Riga was very peaceful with meaningful song sung. We the people are asking for the president to dissolve the parliament and for new elections; so that we may elect a better and more honest government. we want to use our democratic rights to better our country.Viesturs Zagars, Riga | The rally in Riga was very peaceful with meaningful song sung. We the people are asking for the president to dissolve the parliament and for new elections; so that we may elect a better and more honest government. we want to use our democratic rights to better our country.Viesturs Zagars, Riga |
| My wife, a Latvian citizen, and I were at the rally from 11.30 am to the close at about 12.50 in atrocious weather, which must have kept many others at home. The mood of the crowd in Dome Square was peaceful, but determined. People undoubtedly wanted to demonstrate that the recent conduct of the government was unacceptable. Many people were chanting 'atlaist Saeimu!' or 'fire the Saeima', meaning to dissolve it immediately. Speeches from the platform reinforced the mood that we (Latvians) must take responsibility for our own behaviour regarding corruption, and must not accept anything less than transparency and openness in politics. Self-serving government figures must stand down. As a Briton living in Riga for almost ten years now, I saw the rally as a positive move by the population to gain decent government, representative of the masses, rather than the interests of a few powerful people. Derek Parsons, Riga, Latvia | My wife, a Latvian citizen, and I were at the rally from 11.30 am to the close at about 12.50 in atrocious weather, which must have kept many others at home. The mood of the crowd in Dome Square was peaceful, but determined. People undoubtedly wanted to demonstrate that the recent conduct of the government was unacceptable. Many people were chanting 'atlaist Saeimu!' or 'fire the Saeima', meaning to dissolve it immediately. Speeches from the platform reinforced the mood that we (Latvians) must take responsibility for our own behaviour regarding corruption, and must not accept anything less than transparency and openness in politics. Self-serving government figures must stand down. As a Briton living in Riga for almost ten years now, I saw the rally as a positive move by the population to gain decent government, representative of the masses, rather than the interests of a few powerful people. Derek Parsons, Riga, Latvia |
| The rally took place in Dome square in Old Riga. The day was dreadful and snowy. But despite the bad weather a large crowd of deeply concerned people attended the rally. Some of them where carrying posters calling to depose the parliament. Some took our Latvian national flag with them. | The rally took place in Dome square in Old Riga. The day was dreadful and snowy. But despite the bad weather a large crowd of deeply concerned people attended the rally. Some of them where carrying posters calling to depose the parliament. Some took our Latvian national flag with them. |
| The rally consisted of patriotic songs and powerful speeches by important intellectuals from our country. Most of them called for democratic changes... President Valdis Zatlers appeared on stage and tried to tell the Latvian people to be more politically active and responsible, but was denounced by crowd who asked him to depose the parliament. Zatlers has stated he will not do this. | The rally consisted of patriotic songs and powerful speeches by important intellectuals from our country. Most of them called for democratic changes... President Valdis Zatlers appeared on stage and tried to tell the Latvian people to be more politically active and responsible, but was denounced by crowd who asked him to depose the parliament. Zatlers has stated he will not do this. |
| Since our people are tired of our corrupt, pro-business government such rallies are sure to continue and you will here more from us. Maris, Riga. Latvia | Since our people are tired of our corrupt, pro-business government such rallies are sure to continue and you will here more from us. Maris, Riga. Latvia |
| I and my family also participated in this demonstration. There were several reasons for this demonstration - catastrophic economic and social situation (inflation - 12%, low salaries, pensioners get 150 euro pensions although prices are higher than in Germany), corruption in all levels of government, ignorance of public opinion. | I and my family also participated in this demonstration. There were several reasons for this demonstration - catastrophic economic and social situation (inflation - 12%, low salaries, pensioners get 150 euro pensions although prices are higher than in Germany), corruption in all levels of government, ignorance of public opinion. |
| Main slogan was to fire parliament, because people don't trust that the same parliament could make better government. People think that only making new government will not change situation. By the way president was elected just few months ago by this coalition and he is very unpopular because people think he is puppet in hands of coalition. That's the reason why president ignores public's demands to fire parliament.Roberts Safonovs, Riga, Latvia | Main slogan was to fire parliament, because people don't trust that the same parliament could make better government. People think that only making new government will not change situation. By the way president was elected just few months ago by this coalition and he is very unpopular because people think he is puppet in hands of coalition. That's the reason why president ignores public's demands to fire parliament.Roberts Safonovs, Riga, Latvia |
| I was at the rally yesterday. It was pretty amazing to hear and see the 'passion' behind the movement. I've lived here for years (in both Estonia and Latvia) and have always been impressed by the lack of emotion shown within Latvian society (this coming from an American). Yesterday was like stepping back into the movies I'd seen of Latvians fighting for independence in 1990-1991. | |
| The people appeared to be absolutely committed to ending this rampant corruption and taking their country back. The weather was challenging - wet snow and ice - but Dome Square (the center of the rally) was packed. Streets leading to the square were also packed. | |
| I would say that a head count of 7,000 is a very conservative estimate. It appears that the people mean business. It was impossible to take pictures on the square because I couldn't get my camera up to my face - we were jammed elbow to elbow... Holly Morrison, Riga, Latvia | |
| I believe there were considerably more than 7,000 people, perhaps twice as many even though the weather was barely above freezing and there was sleet coming down the entire time. The entire square was full, and even the streets leading to the square were full of people. | |
| The mood was optimistic and cheerful from those who felt they were accomplishing something, but angry and defiant from those who are sick and tired of empty slogans and continued misdeeds particularly in light the night before of the refusal of the judges to take responsibility for collusion and step down. | |
| Some indicated they would return again and again to demonstrate until decency prevailed. The president ascended the stage and people were hopeful that he would have something to say, but he was ineffective. Sandra Kalniete, from the opposition party Jaunais Laiks, gave an excellent speech summarizing what the people wanted.Ieva Szentivanyi, Riga, Latvia | |
| It was gratifying to be one amongst the thousands of Latvians at the rally on Saturday at the Dome Square in Riga. We thus demonstrated once again our sense of unity and faith in the democratic process. Particularly as the prime minister had claimed in a TV interview that we were only "lap dogs" japping at his heels and he felt justified in ignoring us!Ilze Gulena, Riga, Latvia | |
| I was not at rally yesterday, but tension can be felt all around. People want change, stop to inflation, higher salaries, less gap between rich and poor. Last corruption scandal and suspension of Aleksejs Loskutovs was just a trigger, but not cause of rally. | I was not at rally yesterday, but tension can be felt all around. People want change, stop to inflation, higher salaries, less gap between rich and poor. Last corruption scandal and suspension of Aleksejs Loskutovs was just a trigger, but not cause of rally. |
| Actually I felt worsening of situation in Latvia in last two years. Officially we have very high economical growth rate, but because of inflation ordinary person just can feel, that he can buy less at supermarket. | Actually I felt worsening of situation in Latvia in last two years. Officially we have very high economical growth rate, but because of inflation ordinary person just can feel, that he can buy less at supermarket. |
| Everybody in Latvia knows that large part of Latvians have gone to Ireland, and other richer European countries to work there. It does not make you feel good or proud of your country. Name Ireland have became a special symbol. Sometimes, when people feel unfairly treated by their country they joke - should I also go to Ireland? | Everybody in Latvia knows that large part of Latvians have gone to Ireland, and other richer European countries to work there. It does not make you feel good or proud of your country. Name Ireland have became a special symbol. Sometimes, when people feel unfairly treated by their country they joke - should I also go to Ireland? |
| Sometimes it is not a joke and if especially that person already has a friend or relative already living there, he leaves. Of course there are more other problems. Countryside have a lot of them. Abnormally high EU standards, what require new technologies, what usual farmer can't afford. | Sometimes it is not a joke and if especially that person already has a friend or relative already living there, he leaves. Of course there are more other problems. Countryside have a lot of them. Abnormally high EU standards, what require new technologies, what usual farmer can't afford. |
| Small Latvian farms cannot successfully compete without government support, but as I understand in EU local subsidy, mercantilism is not allowed. In country is biggest poverty and almost no work places.... Rural areas have lost almost all young people, who have left searching for job elsewhere. | Small Latvian farms cannot successfully compete without government support, but as I understand in EU local subsidy, mercantilism is not allowed. In country is biggest poverty and almost no work places.... Rural areas have lost almost all young people, who have left searching for job elsewhere. |
| I think these rallies in last days are a good sign, but problem in them is that (and this is thing what president Zatlers also said) people do not have unity in question what to do. But should not normally government plan things. | I think these rallies in last days are a good sign, but problem in them is that (and this is thing what president Zatlers also said) people do not have unity in question what to do. But should not normally government plan things. |
| If people, and especially such calm people as Latvians, rally, it means that problems in Latvia are really great. And I unfortunately do not believe that they will be solved soon. Janis, Riga Latvia | If people, and especially such calm people as Latvians, rally, it means that problems in Latvia are really great. And I unfortunately do not believe that they will be solved soon. Janis, Riga Latvia |
| I repatriated to Latvia last summer, voted for the premier and his party, and regretted it shortly thereafter. Unable to participate at the first rally, early morning and a weekday (Valka is 160km from Riga), I was able to attend this one with my 3 foster children. Valka is very much a "Tautas Partija" town, I'm sure we were the only participants from here. Hopefully this rally will enlighten the arrogant TP saeima leaders.Daina Krastina, Valka, Latvia | |
| I live in Latvia 5 years now. If I write a book of my experiences these 5 years it probably will be a bestseller in Europe. Corruption is in all government. Even police and judges you can buy for money. Maybe is time for media in Europe to look closer to what's happened in the Baltic states and how European politicians close their eyes to the problem?Svein Johannessen, Riga | I live in Latvia 5 years now. If I write a book of my experiences these 5 years it probably will be a bestseller in Europe. Corruption is in all government. Even police and judges you can buy for money. Maybe is time for media in Europe to look closer to what's happened in the Baltic states and how European politicians close their eyes to the problem?Svein Johannessen, Riga |