The following Questions and Answers were posted on the web site of the President of the Republic of Latvia following the meeting of the Latvian Saeima. The Saeima selected Andris Bērziņš to be the new President of Latvia.At this time, the political process, does not appear to be influencing the current economic turnaround. The government of Latvia is continuing to manage the government budget tightly and the economy has stabilized, and is even undergoing modest growth

02.06.2011

President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers organized the news conference after the Saeima meeting on June 2.

Q:Mr President, are you upset about how few votes you received?
The President:I had been counting on it before I decide on the announcement that I would make last Saturday. Of course, there are negative emotions which were best seen in the revelations of Klāvs Olšteins – it was the first reaction. But many processes that are very positive have occurred in Latvia over the last several days, and that is just the beginning. Of course, there are signals which have to be taken into account. The vote on šlesers, for instance, was no accident. We see clearly that the same vote occurred today in voting for the President. I think that when it comes to the things that the Saeima might do until the possible election – I doubt whether the work will be done in terms of party financing and campaign financing. I don’t think that this was a good signal about changes of that kind.

I would, however, like to thank everyone who supported me, both MPs and people throughout Latvia. I think that the process,which began last Saturday will continue.

Q:Will you enter politics during the campaign?
The President:First I have to do my work for the month that is left in my term just as carefully and properly as I have done so far. Laws will be adopted, and I will have to proclaim them and offer my evaluation thereof. There is also the referendum.

Q:Mr President, what were your emotions as you awaited the election result? Were you surprised, or were you counting on it?
The President:I think that there was a bigger surprise for Mr Bērziņš. Seeing the support from the mass media and from people on the streets, and knowing how many letters of support I received, I believe that Mr Bērziņš was surprised at winning the majority that was needed for him to be elected lawfully as the President of Latvia.

Q:Will Andris Bērziņš be a good president?
The President:Let’s think back four years ago, when you probably asked the same question – will Zatlers be a good president? The answer comes only after four years.

Q:Do you think that if you had not proposed the dissolution of the Saeima last Sunday, today’s vote might have been different?
The President:It is difficult to comment on what might have happened. You all know the old joke about what would happen if a little old lady had wheels. I will say again that my announcement on Saturday came at the right moment, and it was the right message. Today’s vote strengthened that belief even more in me.

Q: What will you be doing now?
The President:I will be working.

Q:I mean after July 7. If you decide to enter politics, will you join one of the existing political forces, or will you think about an alternative?
The President:When a victory is won and when a loss has been suffered, the first and main thing to do is to sit down and evaluate the situation at hand. Only then can you act. The euphoria of a victory or less can lead to work that is too hurried, and that does not lead to the best result.

Q:Do you think that this vote represented revenge against you?The President:It is hard for me to comment on such matters, because I am not a vengeful man, and I do not hold grudges.

Q:Will you call for the establishment of a new party, which you mentioned as a possibility in case you were not elected?
The President:Let me say again that when something is finished and you have won a victory or suffered a defeat, you have to stop, think, analyse the situation, and only then decide on what to do. That is exactly what I am going to do. I said that a few days ago – I said “A” and “B”, and I will also say “C.”