Ahead of Academy of Sciences Assembly: Commentary on Its Future and Political Interests
The Latvian Academy of Sciences will hold a secret ballot on 26 November on recalling its president, Ivars Kalviņš. Commentator Māris Zanders notes that academics' priorities may differ from those of politicians.
The autumn general assembly of the Latvian Academy of Sciences (LZA) will hold a secret ballot on 26 November on whether to recall its president, Ivars Kalviņš, from his post. This is shown by the assembly agenda published by the LZA. Māris Zanders, writing a commentary for the news portal Delfi, expects the gathering to also debate broader ideas of change within the academy itself.
Political background
As the author recalls, Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said angrily on 27 October, regarding the so-called Viswanathan citizenship scandal, "It has gone too far!". However, the head of government did not join the debate on the need to take radical action concerning the LZA as a whole. In Zanders's view, the topic will not disappear regardless.
The academic community's view
The author points out that problems could arise because academics' understanding of what matters for the research sector and its institutional structure may differ from politicians' interests. He cites University of Latvia tenured professor Vjačeslavs Kaščejevs. According to Zanders, more than 70 LZA members, who are also demanding Kalviņš's removal, appear to share similar views. The author argues that their position deserves agreement because it addresses concrete problems.
The full text of the commentary is available to Delfi subscribers.
