euro|topics - Laila Pakalnina

09/01/2009

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Pakalnina, Laila

4 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.

Diena - Latvia | 08/10/2008

Transnational deposits on bottles

The daily Diena criticises Latvia's waste disposal system. "Latvia is so full of rubbish that one can barely believe that here in [the central Latvian city of] Jelgava we have the largest recycling plant for PET bottles in Eastern Europe. Only [the northern Latvian city of] Valka is clean because its Estonian twin city Valga installed a machine for taking back bottles like those to be found all over Estonia three years ago. If a Latvian wants to go there and get cash for his rubbish he just has to do one thing: keep his mouth shut and not say a word in Latvian, because you don't pay a deposit on bottles purchased in Latvia. And the Estonians do not react kindly to their neighbours trying to pull a fast one on them."

Diena - Latvia | 10/12/2007

Will Edgars Zalans become Latvia's new head of government?

Today, the little-known Latvian politician Edgars Zalans of the People's Party, who may well become the country's next head of government, is meeting Latvian President Valdis Zatlers. Zatlers, too, was relatively unknown until his election a few months ago. Laila Pakalnina comments: "Today Zatlers must decide whether he will instruct Zalans to form a new government. But both politicians must also decide whether they have more in common than just the first letter of their surnames. Should Zalans be nominated, it would mean that once again it's not the best candidate who is chosen but the one who is least known."

Diena - Latvia | 06/12/2007

Latvia's government resigns

Following a series of corruption scandals, Latvia's Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis and his cabinet resigned yesterday as previously announced. Laila Pakalnina criticises Kalvitis' farewell speech: "This speech shows just how presumptuous Kalvitis has been over the past three years, and this is precisely what will stick in people's memories. Perhaps this presumptuousness led Kalvitis to believe that he belonged to the small group of people in this state who always have the last word. Yet his impudent behaviour was the reason for the mass demonstrations at Riga's Cathedral Square. This government has stood on the people's toes more times than any future government is likely to dare to do."

Diena - Latvia | 22/09/2006

Political singing in Estonia

Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians have a reputation for being very fond of singing. Laila Pakalnina finds it amusing that now the Estonians have chosen the Estonia Concert Hall as the location for the third round of their presidential elections, which is only open to a select group of functionaries and dignitaries. She points out that historical sources describe the ancient Estonians singing at their People's Assemblies. "Regardless of the outcome of the elections, tomorrow Estonia's political singing will continue. In October, a small song concert will be held in honour of Queen Elizabeth II at the Town Hall Square in Tallinn. One of the songs will be sung in English. Perhaps the Estonians are even more convinced of the power of song than we Latvians."

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