The former president of Latvia, Valdis Zatlers, watched the play 'Decree No. 2', based on the events of 2011, and admitted that he perceived the production calmly. According to him, the play allowed him to see himself through the eyes of others 15 years after one of the most high-profile decisions in Latvian politics.
The main character of the play 'Decree No. 2', Valdis Zatlers, publicly shared his impressions of the production by the Dailes Theatre for the first time. The play tells the story of the political events of 2011 and the decision of the then-president to initiate the dissolution of the Saeima.
The production was among the first to be viewed by politicians who became its characters. The role of Zatlers on stage is played by actor Arturs Skrastinsh.
As the former president told the magazine 'Privātā Dzīve', he did not participate in the preparation of the play and did not communicate with the actor before the premiere.
"I am always open to communication, but unfortunately, Arturs Skrastinsh did not reach out to me," Zatlers noted.
According to him, the theatrical interpretation of events remains the right of the creators of the production. At the same time, watching the play turned out to be an interesting experience for him.
"It was an opportunity to look at myself from the outside. To see how people perceived me and understood what they considered important and what not," said the former head of state.
The play also features the ex-president's wife, Lilita Zatlere. She admitted that her appearance among the characters of the production was a surprise since the creators did not discuss the content of the play with her in advance.
Zatlers himself emphasized that he is not inclined to react painfully to such projects. According to him, many participants in those events have changed over the past 15 years, while their relationships have remained amicable.
The events that form the basis of the play are related to the historical decision of the president in 2011 to dissolve the Saeima. At that time, the so-called 'Decree No. 2' became one of the most discussed political steps in modern Latvian history and led to extraordinary parliamentary elections.
A decade and a half after the events that changed Latvian politics, their main participants are already ready to view them not only as history but also as a theatrical work.
