I Don’t Believe! Director Hermanis is Upset with Latvian Society, as It Is Hopeless 0 8

The main idea (or rather, the only idea) seemed revolutionary – parties cease to exist and the Saeima is elected on a majoritarian basis, that is, through single-member districts! How all this will happen and how it will work later, when 100 completely independent servants of the people gather in parliament, the authors of this fixed idea themselves did not fully envision.

However, political competitors noticeably tensed up, fearing that the movement could gain serious support in society. After all, there were all the prerequisites for this. Namely: a catastrophically low level of trust in the authorities and especially in the government (the popularity rating of ALL ministers was negative for the first time in the last 30 years), a pronounced passivity of voters, a lack of charismatic political leaders, and the absence of a "fresh" political force capable of attracting protest voters to the elections. Some political scientists have already tried to compare Hermanis's movement with Einar Repše's entry into politics 20 years ago, who also successfully "played the newcomer" and won the elections. However, he, like other "protest leaders" - Kaimiņš and Gobzems - could not hold on to the political Olympus for long, as they were only able to last one parliamentary term.

In any case, political competitors quickly branded Hermanis with shame — claiming that the director is completely out of touch with political realities and that he has no program or specific proposals in the economy, and the very fixed idea of "abolishing" parties and having 100 independent deputies is a complete utopia.

The People Do Not Believe in "Saviors of the Fatherland"

At some point, it seemed that the "anti-Hermanis" campaign would have the opposite effect — only strengthening society's support for the "Without Parties" movement.

But... the miracle did not happen — in two months, Hermanis and his associates failed to create a powerful socio-political movement or gain support, as they say, from broad layers of the population. Either people are simply not in the mood for revolutions and new political forces right now — with elections only in October next year, or people no longer believe in new "saviors of the Fatherland."

This Goat Has No Milk

And so yesterday, the "savior of the Fatherland" Hermanis published a kind of farewell manifesto on the social network X:

"Postscript. Yesterday, Eurostat confirmed that Latvia now officially ranks last in the European Union. I have no doubt that the people will gather again at Dome Square to express their disapproval and convey their feelings towards those in power. Or am I too naive?

To implement our idea of changing the election order, as a result of which we would finally have competent leaders, and Latvia would emerge from the humiliating shame of those last places in Europe, I needed the support of society. Unfortunately, I never received it. Many allegedly expressed this support privately, but almost no one was ready to do so publicly. That decided everything. Instead, I received almost only condemnation, mockery, and slaps, both in the media and on social networks. I am not overly sensitive; my skin has thickened over 20 years of working in foreign theaters and operas, where there are indeed a pond of sharks compared to a pond of political ducks in Latvia. But I do not want to be intrusive. If the goat has no milk, then it has none.

Hermanis Dropped the Flag on the Floor

As I said, I was ready to take on the role of the standard-bearer on the condition that afterwards, others would take it over and in time, there would be many of us. After all, the idea itself was what mattered – changing the rules of the game that would awaken society. Not as a standard-bearer, but as the flag itself. I did not need any positions; I want to continue building my little ideal Latvia in my theater. I "stirred the wave," hoping that it would be used by those who want change. But it turned out to be in vain. To everyone who will be happy about this news today, I just want to remind you - every time you next pass by the rusty ghost structures of Rail Baltica or take a selfie with those who stole this country, remember this foolish incident of mine and that you are happy about yet another Latvian joining the ranks of the hopeless. To those who wanted to change things for the better but lost. At least I tried. But I no longer believe in this society. It is hopeless.

It cannot be ruled out that Hermanis might suddenly "change his mind" - after all, he is a creative, emotional person! - and "return" to the movement he created. But that would be quite unserious.

Three Fatal Mistakes of the Theater Director

Let us dare to assume that the movement will cease to exist at this point. It is obvious that Hermanis and those behind him made at least three fatal mistakes. The first — if you want to bring about any changes, even if revolutionary, you still have to use existing political and legal tools. You needed to create your own party — and according to the law, no later than a year before the elections, and participate powerfully in the elections to the Saeima. Without representation in parliament, no reform can be implemented!

The second — Hermanis and Co should have thought through a strategy for their activities in advance, a strategy for a promotional (PR) campaign, negotiated with potential sponsors, and offered some economic-political program. Not just running around shouting — down with parties, let’s have 100 independent deputies! Achieving results in politics, in a parliamentary republic, is impossible this way!

And the third — apart from Hermanis, there were no widely known individuals in the "Without Parties" movement. Yes, the group of founders included Saeima deputy, former Minister of Agriculture Didzis Šmits. He is a very experienced politician, but he cannot exactly be called a political star...

Well, as they say, "it died, so it died." The election campaign without Hermanis will probably be more boring, but even without this movement, political competition in the upcoming elections will be insane!