One comment I have is that Vienotība doesn’t seem to do anything in Russian. The Latgalian edition of the pretty vacuous party newspaper had a section in Latgalian (cool, I think), but I haven’t seen any campaign materials in Russian. A couple of local Vienotība candidates have sites, at least (though one has almost no Latvian at all—also not too bright). 

Visu gaišu,
/P

Paldies, Pēteri!

“The Latgalian edition of the pretty vacuous party newspaper had a section in Latgalian (cool, I think), but I haven’t seen any campaign materials in Russian.”

If what’s printed can be characterized as ‘vacuous,’ then does it really matter which language is used?

Wasn’t it also Ozoliņš (I may be mis-remembering) who accused Vienotība of sloth, because the electoral coalition realized that they’re the ‘only game in town,’ at least as an alternative to the oligarchs?  The result being: Vienotība hasn’t chosen (yet?) to put its best foot forward during the campaign season.

All of this is of importance to me, since I’m still trying to decide whether I’ll again follow my conscience or vote for ‘the least evil.’

Visu labu,

E.

Sveika vēlreiz,

The best stuff I’ve seen is from SCP and its candidates, not Vienotība. I suspect it’s quite hard for such a disparate grouping to develop a campaign together. 

/P

Sveiks, vēlreiz!

“I suspect it’s quite hard for such a disparate grouping to develop a campaign together.”

No doubt.  I’ve long thought that the election law needs to be re-visited in regard to allowing electoral coalitions consisting of multiple parties.  In 1993 (when an effort to not repeat the mistakes of the 1.-4., Saeima elections was desired) these coalitions were banned, but they have been allowed since the 6. Saeima election in 1995 to-date. 

Just in terms of strategy on election day, if a voter has selected a particular party to support among a coalition list, then crossing out the names of everyone who doesn’t belong to the preferred party, and giving plusses to those who do belong to it, will strengthen your support of this particular party.

Visu labu,

E.

I hear that the V-group’s election campaign may kick in some time in August, especially now that they’re losing the ratings, according to one public survey. Having said that, it’s worth pointing out that they’re running against the media wall - with Diena and LNT touting the other guys’ platform.

By feeble attempt to reach out the Russian voters, I meant this.

The Harmony Centre, it seems, is hoping to be in the next government. To be in the next government, it needs to walk to tight line between appeasing its base (the Russian-speakers) and playing to the Latvian parties. Urbanovics failed at that with his “Bishkek” comment and the survey. The uproar prompted the Castle to change its mind on Urbanovics as the next prime minister, should the SC wins. The recent silence over Liegis and Gerharts’ visit to “the SS veterans meet” in the countryside - both from the SC and the Russian embassy - points to their desire to present themselves as an alternative to the Latvian electorate. Of course, the drive to create the “Third Republic” just points out how high in the sky these people fly. Even the Reform Task Force Latvia group, where Peteris worked as an interpreter, appears to have been set up to win the hearts and minds of thinking individuals who believe that economically speaking the country is heading in the wrong direction.

I haven’t received any propaganda in the mail yet. I’m waiting for late August for it to start.

Paldies, paldies par pēdējām ziņām! : ) 

Please keep us posted as the campaigns begin to shape up. 

Visu labu,

E.

PS Almost forgot again - I found the web site for Faktum, which for the first time is predicting election outcomes.  Does anyone know whether their methodology and raw numbers (i.e., how many of those interviewed selected a specific coalition, how many were undecided and/or not planning on voting, what the survey’s margin of error might be, etc.) is available?  I know they’ve been working for businesses in LV since 2007.  But, any idea how they got into the political field? 

In other words:  who’s paying them?