The provocative report by the morning sandwich with trout about how somewhere in the sea of anti-Russian sanctions and a simple Russian Deputy Prime Minister on holiday triggered: (a) mutation of farmers in the forefront of the political class and b) a governmental crisis, gradually turning into a “sprat civil”.
In a rainy August, when there are no other news besides the Olympics, in Latvia, there was a silent event, which has for weeks gradually translates into a scandal.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, who was vacationing in Jurmala, wanted to inspect any fish processing enterprise. This desire is nothing strange, because among other things, his responsibilities included coordination of the work of the government in agriculture and fisheries.
Given the high status of the guest, excursions were made by Ambassador of Russia in Latvia Alexander Veshnyakov (ex-CEC). With the organization, he apparently coped well, since the examination of another smoke shop Dvorkovich met on three Latvian Ministers: agriculture, transport and Finance. And had with them an informal conversation – as reported and discussed only the fate of the gas storage facility in Incukalns village and the lifting of sanctions for fish processors.
After that began the scandal, which is being developed with each passing day.
It turned out that at the meeting there was nobody from the Ministry of foreign Affairs. Moreover, informed sources say that the meeting with the Latvian side has received from the Russian Ambassador is quite a clear hint that such a presence could complicate the organization of this informal meeting until its impossibility – and took this hint with sincere understanding.
After all, the Minister of foreign Affairs Edgars rinkēvičs is famous because in the summer of 2014 unexpectedly was able to defeat the soft power of Putin, expelling from Jurmala KVN, New wave and Comedy club, and soon after, he security purposes found it necessary to admit himself gay.
And last year, the foreign Minister has compared his Twitter Russia with Nazi Germany, after which the Russian side has repeatedly made it clear that I wasn’t interested in contacts with the Latvian Ministry of foreign Affairs to the resignation of the Leaders.
After the fact, the Ministry of foreign Affairs colleagues expressed their indignation at the violation of accepted Protocol at the meeting of such level, even informal, the presence of a representative of the Ministry of foreign Affairs is necessary.
The Minister of agriculture was justified by the fact that pre-verbally informed the Leaders about the upcoming meeting and even talk to him, to raise any questions in this informal conversation, it would be useful for Latvia.
That’s just people in the know claim that as a result of this information, the Minister of foreign Affairs remained in the belief that we should expect a minor of the meeting courtesy of the Minister of agriculture with a bored at the resort, Deputy Prime Minister of the neighboring state to which to send the representative of the foreign Ministry there is no reason – and the news about the participation in negotiations of three Ministers, and even in the presence of the Russian Ambassador, left him in shock.
Minister rinkēvičs publicly demanded that the three Ministers “comprehensive and detailed information” about this meeting, because “there are questions in which Latvia’s position of principle including those touching on security and participation in NATO”.
What just yesterday received an asymmetrical response – the Union of Latvian fish processing enterprises called to remove Economics from his position.
Remotely believe that such behaviour of the Minister “confirms the willingness to use foreign policy for domestic political intrigues, and such behavior cannot be assessed otherwise, as a direct sabotage of public interest.”
Here it is necessary to explain the following. Ministers-conspirators not only the direct victims of the sanctions ministries. All three belong to the party “the Union of greens and farmers (21 in the 100-seat Parliament) – as you might guess from the name, the voters in that party affected by sanctions more than others. To this party belong to the current Prime Minister and President.
While the foreign Minister belongs to another party, “Unity” (23) which together with the third party coalition of extreme nationalist “National Association” (17 seats) are basically little affected by the sanctions of the electoral officials and urban residents.
Some sources believe that in this situation, the PCs may well be tempted to break up the coalition and create a new one.
The purpose can be some kind of agreement with Russia, facilitating the provision of agricultural export and transit. Partner could be conditionally-Russian party “Consent” (24 seats) – its closest analogue can be considered the Ukrainian Party of regions.
At any other time for sacs, as the Latvian nationalist party – and all Latvian parties are in varying degrees of nationalist – invitation to the coalition of Russian parties (and even conventionally-Russian) would be tantamount to political suicide.
As in Latvia, the bearer of nationalism are not the party, but the whole Latvian community, because such a move in the next election, the PCs could lose up to half of the seats in Parliament. But in the current situation the picture changes dramatically. After all, if nothing is done, the victim of the sacs sanctions, the electorate will turn away from the party – as sponsors, most of which is tied to the production and export of food products, as well as on transit.
It turns out a serious setback in the next election threatens the PCs with any option.
But if in case a new coalition will be able to significantly improve the situation with exports to Russia, for the remaining two years before the election of the 2018 electoral position of the party will recover completely. And above the intrigue with occasional meetings of Ministers of the Latvian and Russian senior vacationers can judge that feverish consultations on this subject conducted.
However, to build a coalition of votes sacs and “Consent” is not enough, will have to seduce another party. This would be the case in the parliamentary opposition is quiet as a mouse under the broom, waiting in the case of the two Latvian parties, in size 7 and 8 votes respectively. It will be enough of any of them, and one will totally agree – both have nothing to lose.
In this story interesting, here’s a caveat. As I remember our SW. readers, sanctions against Russia were introduced, and with a sly calculation. Cunning plan of Western Kremlinologists thought that a corrupt elite of oligarchs, feeling in its pocket the full power of sanctions of the free world, or force the leadership of Russia to change a policy, or even force him to leave.
It is believed that insidious, well-calculated plan can still succeed. And not in Russia, and in Latvia – so it happens. Importantly, the plan is good.
