[10.10.2011, 17:17] So it is official: the airBaltic saga has reached, if not the end, then a major milestone. The Latvian government is no longer just the nominal majority shareholder: it actually now controls the airline. A bailout plan has been prepared and approved and hopefully will be soon put into action. And, most importantly, the airline's flamboyant CEO Bertolt Flick has stepped down.

[26.09.2011, 11:05] If there is one recurring theme in the Latvian politics, it is this: whatever your predictions are, they will be wrong.

[09.05.2011, 17:12] Latvia has been blessed with politicians who talk in sound bites. Look at Aigars Kalvitis, the Prime Minister of Latvia during the economic boom years. His biblical allusion – comparing the economic boom to the seven fat years – has become a handy nickname for the boom years. No need to bother with "years of unsustainable economic growth" – just mention "the fat years", and every Latvian will understand what are you talking about.

[12.03.2011, 22:39] Just like any small nation, Latvians believe themselves to be quite unique. For one, there is a widespread belief that our recession obviously is the worst in Europe.  And the causes for our recession are unique, too – thanks to our unique history, we were so much more naïve. We just had never experienced such amazing growth, you see, so we got a bit carried away. That is so us.

[08.10.2010, 14:54] When talking and writing about the 2 October Latvian general elections, there is one epithet that springs up with amazing consistency: historic. The elections have been described as a turning point, most important elections in 15 years, Latvia at crossroads and a number of other comparisons that are intended to invoke their historic significance. As clichéd as the metaphors may be, they do hold a significant grain of truth. The elections indeed could change a lot – and their results suggest a profound change in the Latvian society. So what makes them so special?