Cablegate: Latvia Elects Its New President: Valdis Zatlers

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OO RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHRA #0416 1511154
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 311154Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY RIGA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4075
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS RIGA 000416

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL LG
SUBJECT: Latvia elects its new president: Valdis Zatlers

Ref: a) Riga 411 b) Riga 392 c) Riga 322

1. (U) On May 31, after an hour-long debate, the Saeima (Latvian
parliament) elected Latvia's new president - Valdis Zatlers,
candidate of the coalition parties, with 58 votes. 39 lawmakers
voted for the opposition's candidate, Aivars Endzins, one member
voted for neither candidate and two members were absent. (Bio
information on Zalters in ref b)

2. (U) Although the ballot was secret, it is assumed that the 58
votes in favor of Zatlers consist of the votes of all members of the
coalition party (57) and one vote of the ethnic Russian opposition
party For Human Rights in the United Latvia (PCTVL). Endzins
appears to have received all the votes of the parliamentary factions
of Harmony Center (SC) and New Era ( JL) and a few from PCTVL. By
law, the start of Zatler's four year term as President will be set
by the Saeima. (ref c) It is widely expected, though, that this
will occur on July 8 as the term of the current president, Vaira
Vike-Freiberga, expires on July 7.

Waser

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