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P 181458Z JUN 07
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INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RIGA 000463 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL LG
SUBJECT: Public and press reaction to Zatlers' election 
 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: The reaction of the media and general public to 
Valdis Zatlers' election as president has been predominantly 
negative and rather emotional, though some commentators have 
remained neutral and called on others to give the new president time 
to prove his independence and skills. The ruling coalition, the 
National Association of Doctors and the Chernobyl Association have 
been the main supporters of the new president, who previously headed 
of the National Orthopedic and Trauma Hospital. The biggest Latvian 
daily newspaper Diena, representing Latvia's liberal circles, and 
the NGO "Delna", Latvia's branch of Transparency International, have 
been among the sharpest critics. A lack of transparency in the 
selection procedure and the perceived inability of the ruling 
coalition to provide sound arguments on why Zatlers was the best 
candidate have been the prime targets of criticism.  Zatlers' 
confession that he had accepted "gratitude" money from patients, and 
failed to pay taxes on that income, has contributed to the general 
negative reaction towards his election. End summary. 
 
¶2. (U) Since Valdis Zatlers' election by the Saeima (parliament) on 
May 31, the general public reaction can be characterized by 
indifference at best to outright hostility at worst.  The mass 
media, in particular the daily Diena and the prominent news program 
"Panorama", have been the main critics of Zatlers since the 
election, just as they were in the run up.  In Zatlers' press 
conference immediately following his election, Diena journalists 
kept asking about the morality of a president who "does not pay 
taxes", prompting a testy exchange in which Zatlers responded that 
"freedom of the press is not impunity".  A regular refrain in these 
media sources has been that "Zatlers is a good doctor; however, he 
does not have any competence in political affairs and thus could be 
dependant on those who nominated him". 
 
¶3. (U) News outlets more favorable to the government such as 
Latvijas Avize (a rural paper) and Neatkariga (a paper affiliated 
with the business interests of jailed Venspils mayor Aivars 
Lembergs) have been more supportive. Neatkariga mainly echoed views 
of the coalition party and avoided publishing any critical 
statements on Zatlers. The newspaper stressed that Zatlers has not 
been involved in any political party (outgoing President Vaira 
Vike-Freiberga previously noted that in Latvia's situation it would 
be better if the next president is not a member of any party) and 
focused on records of his high-level professional and administrative 
skills, as well as character traits needed for a doctor, 
particularly a surgeon: decisiveness, responsibility for his actions 
and humanity. The newspaper highly doubted the results of the 
opinion poll carried out just before the presidential elections 
which indicated very strong support for the second candidate, Aivars 
Endzins. Latvijas Avize did not openly side with either candidate, 
however, the majority of the published letters from its readers, as 
well as a phone survey or readers, were in support of Endzins. 
 
¶4. (U) Local Russian language media seems to be more supportive of 
Zatlers and has even reproached elements of the Latvian media for 
running a "slander campaign" against him.  The tolerant attitude of 
the Russian press is interesting in that public statements made by 
Zatlers indicate that he is quite conservative on 
ethnically-sensitive issues in Latvia; most notably that he believes 
that Latvian non-citizens should not be granted voting rights in 
municipal elections and believes that no minority faces 
discrimination in Latvia.  Those positions, usually antithetical to 
the Russian press, seem to be overshadowed by Zatlers' willingness 
to speak Russian in public (Vike-Freiberga does not speak Russian) 
and the fact that he was one of the first doctors who went to 
Chernobyl to deal with the consequences of that catastrophe. 
 
¶5. (U) Opinion makers have been mixed in their reviews of Zatlers. 
Elite commentators have generally taken the view that Zatlers' 
election has deepened the gap between the majority of public and the 
government, since he seemed to have very little public support 
before the election.  Some commentators, however, have tried to 
present a balanced analysis of the situation and called on the 
public to give Zatlers time to prove his independence. Journalist 
Juris Rozenvalds noted that "the community has to accept and respect 
the new President ... as he was elected democratically - criticism 
and protests will only damage the political system in Latvia". 
European Court of Justice Judge Egils Levits, who was among those 
rumored to be a potential presidential candidate, voiced his hope 
that the new president will carry out his duties with dignity and 
noted that the people should give him "some trust credit" in his new 
position. 
 
¶6. (U) Comments by representatives in other fields do not contain 
much in-depth analysis, though some show concern.  Andris Strazds, 
lecturer at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, noted that 
Zatlers has failed to demonstrate a good understanding of key 
economic issues, but that he hopes the President will manage to 
formulate responses to the main issues affecting the economy. 
Philosopher Artis Svece stated "I am concerned that Zatlers is 
having to learn fast, though not just about foreign and domestic 
policies, but also the style and argumentation used by our 
politicians.  He has become similar to (Prime Minsiter) Kalvitis and 
(Interior Minister) Godmanis [key members of the ruling coalition] 
too quickly".  Aivis Ronis, Chair of the Latvia-American Financial 
 
RIGA 00000463  002 OF 002 
 
 
Forum and former Ambassador to Washington, added that the truth is 
that Zatlers agreed when he was called "a compromise of parties' 
ambitions". Guntis Ulmanis, Latvia's first president after the 
country regained independence in 1991, congratulated Zatlers just 
after his election,  though days later remarked publicly that 
Zatlers' election marked the highest peak of the government's 
cynical attitude towards Latvia's people and their will. 
 
¶7. (U) After the election, a majority of opposition lawmakers 
demonstrated their respect for the choice of the Saeima 
(parliament).  Leader of the political party Harmony Center (SC), 
Nils Usakovs, which nominated Aivars Endznis to run against Zatlers, 
stated that he respects the Saeima's decision and hopes that Zatlers 
will be a good head of the country.  However, the former leader of 
New Era (JL), Einars Repse, did not stand up to congratulate the new 
president.  He later said "I did not feel any joy to get on my feet" 
when the Saeima announced the election results. 
 
¶8. (U) The biggest opponents outside of government have been Latvian 
NGOs, particularly "Delna", the Latvian branch of the Transparency 
International, and "Providus".  Providus expert Valts Kalnins voiced 
concern about what he termed Zatlers' "political incompetence." 
"Mr. Zatlers is searching in the dark [in the discussion about 
various legal issues].  He simply does not know many things". 
"Delna", for it's part, staged a protest meeting against Zatlers on 
election day at the Saeima.  It must be noted, though, that two 
non-governmental organizations - the Chernobyl Association (a group 
providing assistance to survivors and family members of that 
accident) and the Association of Doctors - did support Zatlers. 
 
¶9. (U) Comment: Various polls before the election showed that the 
majority of people supported Aivars Endzins, presidential candidate 
of the opposition party SC.  There have been no public polls 
post-election on support for Zatlers, but apart from the coalition 
parties, few seem enthusiastic about the new president.  It is clear 
that the early period of his presidency will be carefully 
scrutinized and that he will have to make great efforts to gain 
acceptance among Latvia's liberal circles.  End comment. 
 
Bailey