Analytics, Economics, Latvia, Legislation

Vaira Vike-Freiberga.

"I believe that usually when there is dissatisfaction with what is happening and a political solution is needed, the first to fall is the government. A democratic government is the executive power that is responsible for decisions which lead to certain results. This is especially true in the distribution of funds, tax policies and the distribution of funds within the various ministries. The government has political responsibility for these ministries. The first to be blamed in any situation when the public is not satisfied, the first door to be knocked on, is the government's," Vike-Freiberga said in an interview to the newspaper Diena today.

"The idea that Saeima members are to blame puzzles me. To be honest, they are not the persons who make decisions that are in the competence of the government. They confirm the makeup of the government and the budget, and are equally responsible. In a mature democracy, the first to be demanded is the responsibility of the government, not the parliament," the former Latvian president believes.

"In any case, the next logical step is a government reshuffle. The first thing the prime minister should do, just like shuffling a deck of cards, is to sack the weaker ministers, invite new and competent faces and redistribute the other ministers, with the hope that this will lead to a better solution. A government reshuffle is the first thing that should be done," Vike-Freiberga said.

"In my opinion, the option of dismissing Saeima should only come up when it is clear that a new government cannot be formed. This, I believe, is the logical sequence before a president comes to the final conclusion that a strong government cannot be formed with such a parliament makeup," the ex-president believes.

Assessing the People's Party's proposal to allow Saeima to dismiss itself, Vike-Freiberga said that this is "a bit peculiar". "As I understand, sometime ago in the world, a country allowed such a thing to happen. I believe that this proposal is bizarre," said Vike-Freiberga.

"I had previously wished for the Constitutional article, which foresees that if a president proposes the dissolution of the parliament, and the proposal is voted down at the referendum, he or she must leave office, to be taken out of the Constitution. It makes the likelihood if a parliament dissolution very little," said the former president.

Evaluating the January 13 rioting in Riga's Old Town, Vike-Freiberga expressed the point of view that professional vandals did not participate in the rioting. "These were people who had other things on their agenda. They gathered to express their political opinions. Expressing your point of view and making demands is not only allowable, but necessary in a democracy. On the other hand, any violence, or violence against other persons or property, is, of course, outside the norms of a civilized democratic society."