RIGA – Latvia’s Minister of Finance Einars Repše will not ballot for the next parliament and intends to quit politics, his spokesman said Tuesday, though he will assist the parties he helped create, New Era and Unity, if his former colleagues ask him.

Spokesman Aleksis Jarockis told the Delfi new portal that Repše has worked 23 years for the benefit of the state but the former prime minister feels that the [private_supervisor]time has come to do something else.

Former central bank chairman and founder of New Era, Repše is a divisive figure in Latvian politics — typically either admired or loathed. Many are attracted to the finance minister’s intellect and courage, while others think he is a sanctimonious show-off.

Recently Repše was sorely stung by his fellow party members after they decided to expel his adviser and friend, Dans Titavs, from New Era. Repše was aghast at the decision, calling it “unacceptable” and “undemocratic.” At the time it appeared he was ready to quit, at it appears he’s gone ahead with that decision.

To his credit, however, Repše decided to wait until the next parliament was elected and next government formed before jumping ship. As finance minister, he is arguably the most crucial participant in talks with international lenders such as the International Monetary Fund and the European Union, and his untimely departure would have reflected poorly on Latvia.

Solvita Āboltiņa, New Era chairwoman, told Delfi that she spoke with Repše about his decision and that Titavs’ expulsion was not mentioned as a reason. She suggested, however, that the finance minister’s post has been extraordinarily challenging and has exacted a toll on Repše. “Einars Repše will always remain a part of New Era — he is the party’s found and also its symbol,” said Āboltiņa.

Repše founded New Era in the beginning of 2002 on an anti-corruption platform. He went on to win the parliamentary election in October of that year and was named prime minister. One of his first acts was to create an anti-graft bureau (KNAB) that, while the few years it had the government’s support, made inroads against the rampant corruption in Latvia politics and law enforcement.

However, his leadership style repulsed many, including former President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga. Repše was prone to show off — such as commandeering a helicopter while the Lithuanian president was on board or jumping out of an official automobile while it was rolling to a stop and do spontaneous things unbecoming of the head of government.

Many, including Vīķe-Freiberga, suggested that after losing power early in 2004 Repše’s character mellowed and became a more mature politician. Indeed, his role as finance minister during Latvia’s great recession, has been instrumental in consolidating the hard-hit country’s finances despite the pain it inflicted and regarded as a much-needed change after the dilettante, if not disastrous leadership of his two ministerial predecessors.

Repše was chairman of the Bank of Latvia for 10 years, and was an active participant in the independence movement in the late 1980s. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]time has come to do something else.

Former central bank chairman and founder of New Era, Repše is a divisive figure in Latvian politics — typically either admired or loathed. Many are attracted to the finance minister’s intellect and courage, while others think he is a sanctimonious show-off.

Recently Repše was sorely stung by his fellow party members after they decided to expel his adviser and friend, Dans Titavs, from New Era. Repše was aghast at the decision, calling it “unacceptable” and “undemocratic.” At the time it appeared he was ready to quit, at it appears he’s gone ahead with that decision.

To his credit, however, Repše decided to wait until the next parliament was elected and next government formed before jumping ship. As finance minister, he is arguably the most crucial participant in talks with international lenders such as the International Monetary Fund and the European Union, and his untimely departure would have reflected poorly on Latvia.

Solvita Āboltiņa, New Era chairwoman, told Delfi that she spoke with Repše about his decision and that Titavs’ expulsion was not mentioned as a reason. She suggested, however, that the finance minister’s post has been extraordinarily challenging and has exacted a toll on Repše. “Einars Repše will always remain a part of New Era — he is the party’s found and also its symbol,” said Āboltiņa.

Repše founded New Era in the beginning of 2002 on an anti-corruption platform. He went on to win the parliamentary election in October of that year and was named prime minister. One of his first acts was to create an anti-graft bureau (KNAB) that, while the few years it had the government’s support, made inroads against the rampant corruption in Latvia politics and law enforcement.

However, his leadership style repulsed many, including former President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga. Repše was prone to show off — such as commandeering a helicopter while the Lithuanian president was on board or jumping out of an official automobile while it was rolling to a stop and do spontaneous things unbecoming of the head of government.

Many, including Vīķe-Freiberga, suggested that after losing power early in 2004 Repše’s character mellowed and became a more mature politician. Indeed, his role as finance minister during Latvia’s great recession, has been instrumental in consolidating the hard-hit country’s finances despite the pain it inflicted and regarded as a much-needed change after the dilettante, if not disastrous leadership of his two ministerial predecessors.

Repše was chairman of the Bank of Latvia for 10 years, and was an active participant in the independence movement in the late 1980s. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]time has come to do something else.

Former central bank chairman and founder of New Era, Repše is a divisive figure in Latvian politics — typically either admired or loathed. Many are attracted to the finance minister’s intellect and courage, while others think he is a sanctimonious show-off.

Recently Repše was sorely stung by his fellow party members after they decided to expel his adviser and friend, Dans Titavs, from New Era. Repše was aghast at the decision, calling it “unacceptable” and “undemocratic.” At the time it appeared he was ready to quit, at it appears he’s gone ahead with that decision.

To his credit, however, Repše decided to wait until the next parliament was elected and next government formed before jumping ship. As finance minister, he is arguably the most crucial participant in talks with international lenders such as the International Monetary Fund and the European Union, and his untimely departure would have reflected poorly on Latvia.

Solvita Āboltiņa, New Era chairwoman, told Delfi that she spoke with Repše about his decision and that Titavs’ expulsion was not mentioned as a reason. She suggested, however, that the finance minister’s post has been extraordinarily challenging and has exacted a toll on Repše. “Einars Repše will always remain a part of New Era — he is the party’s found and also its symbol,” said Āboltiņa.

Repše founded New Era in the beginning of 2002 on an anti-corruption platform. He went on to win the parliamentary election in October of that year and was named prime minister. One of his first acts was to create an anti-graft bureau (KNAB) that, while the few years it had the government’s support, made inroads against the rampant corruption in Latvia politics and law enforcement.

However, his leadership style repulsed many, including former President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga. Repše was prone to show off — such as commandeering a helicopter while the Lithuanian president was on board or jumping out of an official automobile while it was rolling to a stop and do spontaneous things unbecoming of the head of government.

Many, including Vīķe-Freiberga, suggested that after losing power early in 2004 Repše’s character mellowed and became a more mature politician. Indeed, his role as finance minister during Latvia’s great recession, has been instrumental in consolidating the hard-hit country’s finances despite the pain it inflicted and regarded as a much-needed change after the dilettante, if not disastrous leadership of his two ministerial predecessors.

Repše was chairman of the Bank of Latvia for 10 years, and was an active participant in the independence movement in the late 1980s. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]time has come to do something else.

Former central bank chairman and founder of New Era, Repše is a divisive figure in Latvian politics — typically either admired or loathed. Many are attracted to the finance minister’s intellect and courage, while others think he is a sanctimonious show-off.

Recently Repše was sorely stung by his fellow party members after they decided to expel his adviser and friend, Dans Titavs, from New Era. Repše was aghast at the decision, calling it “unacceptable” and “undemocratic.” At the time it appeared he was ready to quit, at it appears he’s gone ahead with that decision.

To his credit, however, Repše decided to wait until the next parliament was elected and next government formed before jumping ship. As finance minister, he is arguably the most crucial participant in talks with international lenders such as the International Monetary Fund and the European Union, and his untimely departure would have reflected poorly on Latvia.

Solvita Āboltiņa, New Era chairwoman, told Delfi that she spoke with Repše about his decision and that Titavs’ expulsion was not mentioned as a reason. She suggested, however, that the finance minister’s post has been extraordinarily challenging and has exacted a toll on Repše. “Einars Repše will always remain a part of New Era — he is the party’s found and also its symbol,” said Āboltiņa.

Repše founded New Era in the beginning of 2002 on an anti-corruption platform. He went on to win the parliamentary election in October of that year and was named prime minister. One of his first acts was to create an anti-graft bureau (KNAB) that, while the few years it had the government’s support, made inroads against the rampant corruption in Latvia politics and law enforcement.

However, his leadership style repulsed many, including former President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga. Repše was prone to show off — such as commandeering a helicopter while the Lithuanian president was on board or jumping out of an official automobile while it was rolling to a stop and do spontaneous things unbecoming of the head of government.

Many, including Vīķe-Freiberga, suggested that after losing power early in 2004 Repše’s character mellowed and became a more mature politician. Indeed, his role as finance minister during Latvia’s great recession, has been instrumental in consolidating the hard-hit country’s finances despite the pain it inflicted and regarded as a much-needed change after the dilettante, if not disastrous leadership of his two ministerial predecessors.

Repše was chairman of the Bank of Latvia for 10 years, and was an active participant in the independence movement in the late 1980s. [/private_subscription 1 year]

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