Talk:Valdis Zatlers

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[edit] Information box is a little premature

The information box for "President" Zatlers says that he is the "incumbent" president of Latvia and that he "assumed" office on "7 July 2007". Since this is an encyclopedia and is supposed to be about accurate facts, perhaps we should wait until July 7th, 2007 before posting these "facts". Wikipedia isn't as bad as the Great Soviet Encyclopedia...yet. We must take care about what we post if we are going to be taken seriously. Writtenright 21:20, 31 May 2007 (UTC)Writtenright

Why you are comparing Wikipedia with Soviet Encyclopedia ? --Mothmolevna ( © ® ) 21:41, 31 May 2007 (UTC)
Yes, I decided not to add these infoboxes for the same reason, since I'm not only one in such mind I'll remove them for now (though apparently there is president-elected infobox, but I couldn't find nor it's documenation, nor article where it is allready used). I'll add information that is only in infobox (such as his wife's name) to the article, so all info will stay -- Xil/talk 22:40, 31 May 2007 (UTC)
He is the President(-elect) taking office on July 7, 2007. – Ilse@ 12:45, 1 June 2007 (UTC)
Yes, well, box you added is fine, but politics series shouldn't be included yet
P.S. I think comparison with Soviet Encyclopedia meant that we shouldn't include incorect information ---- Xil/talk 13:28, 1 June 2007 (UTC)
The reference to the Soviet Encyclopedia has to do with the anecdote of them being so reliable they published facts before they actually happened. Philaweb T-C 23:41, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Interesting facts

Basicly things I didn't know were to put (also I didn't know were to put his activities in Popular front, which I put at begining of political career section):

  • He has finished 50th middle (secondary ?) school of Riga, which is now known as Humanitarian middle school of Riga Center.
  • I don't understand this:
Since 2004 - VSIA Latvian Traumatology and Orthopaedics Hospital - chief of board
1998–2004 — BOVSIA Latvian Traumatology and Orthopaedics Hospital - director and chief of board
1994–1998 — Latvian Traumatology and Orthopaedics Hospital - director
I'd assume that he left director's office, but yesterday in Panorāma (evening news) he was refered to as director and I see that status of the hospital has been changed (from state nonprofit organisation ltd. to state ltd.)
  • His CV mentions his lectures, researches, training and membership in asociations, and honorifics I've never heard about - not sure if these are needed
  • Apparently as a doctor he specializes in knee
  • He's native language is Latvian, he is fluent in English and Russian - Vaira Vīķe Freiberga was prised for her knoledge of five languages, so her article mentions what languages she speaks, Zatlers however is just like avarage Latvian
  • He has fourth rank Order of the Three Stars, however I remember that as a president he should be automaticly granted first rank ?
  • He participated in cleenup works after Chernobyl nuclear disaster
  • His interests are: Cooking, flowers, art, music and ISO standards of quality management -- Xil/talk 15:37, 1 June 2007 (UTC)

- I put in the facts about Chernobyl and Three Star Order, under "medical career". If anyone knows what was his role in Chernobyl (treating the people affected by radiation?) or for what achievements he received the Order, that should be in the article, as well. Andris 23:23, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

I don't know for what deeds (most likely for being good doctor) but it's fresh - I found that he (should have) received the order on April 27, 2007 [1], perhaps it would be possible to find out by reading April's newspapers, coincidentaly our current president awarded her husband with the order at the same time, which some people didn't like at all, so it certanly should have goten some press coverage. As for Chernobyl, I found only this sentence - "Ārsta praksē, kurā būts arī Černobiļā pēc atomelektrostacijas katastrofas, viņš esot iemantojis ļaužu mīlestību." IMHO that means he was there as a doctor, also my granmother who used to work in hospital said that there were many doctors who went to Chernobyl at the time (sort of voluntarily)---- Xil/talk 00:17, 3 June 2007 (UTC)
I note that Chancery of the President has made a Press release on Zatlers first 100 days in office, which might be used to add some information on his presidency at last (unfortunetely it is only in Latvian) ----Xil...sist! 18:00, 15 October 2007 (UTC)