Talk:Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga

Stub?

I'm tempted to place a stub note here because there's zero information about the political work and/or views that caused the election and re-election for president. --Shallot 20:06, 25 May 2004 (UTC)

Good point. I extended it, although it may still need more work.Andris 21:27, May 25, 2004 (UTC)

The article says that criticisms of her for being uninvolved in domestic politics are "unfounded and speculative". POV much?

I agree on that. Therefore I made a minor modification of the sentence.--David

I'm unable to read the Latvian-language Wikipedia article, but concealed more information on Ms. Vike-Freiberga than the English-language article. I knew her political stance is in the center-right, note her diplomatic alliance to the US, and developed a friendship with US state secretary Condoleeza Rice in recent years. She's not a widely known female leader like Angela Merkel of Germany, but a small minority of women leaders aren't socialists like Margaret Thatcher of Great Britain and Kim Campbell of Canada are in the rightist spectrum. But I find more female leaders like Tarja Halonen of Finland, Hillary Rodham Clinton in the US (she may personally assisted Bill Clinton's presidency) and Michelle Bachelet of Chile are definitely in the leftist spectrum. -- G. Sageha

Quote on Salaspils - is this, as I suspect, incorrect?

I have, in several places, read claims that she has referred to the Salaspils concentration camp as an "educational institution". I suspect Russian nationalists to be behind this claim, and suspect it to be correspondingly empty. I just wondered .. have there been reports on a similar quote, however unreliable .. or is this *absolute* nonsense? ChiLlBeserker 01:43, 20 September 2006 (UTC)

She never said that. This name appeared in recently issued Latvian history book she granted to Russian president. Book was thoroughly screened for mistakes in Russia and they found that book provides also the official Nazi name of Salaspils death camp - "working educational camp". After all this is history book and it tries to provide more information. This was taken out of the context of book used to blow out one more PR campaign against Latvia. Come on, lots of Latvians themselves suffered and died in this camp...

Daarznieks 12:17, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Canadian citizenship

Did she give up her Canadian citizenship to assume the presidency of Latvia? GAW

I can't find anything to describe if she's a dual-citizen of Canada, but I'm sure she returned to Latvia after independence and became involved in her homeland's political errands. I like for any wikipedian to do actual research on the issue. -- G. Sageha

Yes, she did around the time she was elected - according to Latvian law president can't have dual citizenship (acctualy no one can, but some apparently do...) -- Xil/talk 02:48, 9 December 2006 (UTC)

Rewrite

I've rewritten the article and included an honours section.

    The article reads remarkably as if written by Mrs. Vike-Freiberga herself, or her PR agents. I've seen very few more obviously self-written entries on politicians. I suggest toning down the advertising language and leaning more towards impartiality and factuality.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.101.241.6 (talk) 14:10, 19 November 2009 (UTC) 

Infobox?

Now that she is no longer president, shouldn't the infobox {{Politics of Latvia}} be removed from the article? Its continued presence may be confusing... — Zalktis 18:18, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

This box can be found in some articles not mentioned there, but if you think it's confusing, I think it can be removed - no other article on president has it, even Zatlers' didn't - I just placed it there ---- Xil/talk 13:52, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

Selected works?

VVF is an accomplished academic. Shouldn't there be a brief section listing some of here better known/more influential publications? The example I know best is Saules Dainas (1988). But there is also Linguistics and poetics of Latvian folk songs: essays in honour of the sesquicentennial of the birth of Kr. Barons (1989), and I assume there are also a number of good journal articles of hers out there. Anyone competent willing to take on this task? — Zalktis 15:32, 8 September 2007 (UTC)

Let's develop system, I looked trough FA quality biographies for ideas, so here are some ideas how TOC should look:

1. Early life and education - her life until 1960
2. Family and personal life - I noted that elsewhere this is in begining of article, placing it at end of article after "Honours", in my opinion, is inaproporite. She got married in 1960 so it fits here chronologicaly as well
3. Studies of Latvian culture - I couldn't come up with a fully descriptive title for this section (any suggestions ?), I think this should include all her Latvia-related activities in exile and her research work on Latvian culture
4. Professional life - this should concer her psychology-related activities. 3. and 4. sections could also be switched if needed
5. Presidency - if needed this could be dived in two sections (one for each term). And posibly an section concerning her life after 1990 or after return to Latvia before this section or/and an a section on her leaving the office after this section.
6. After presidency
7. Selected works - the section you are asking for now, she has written some 150 works, here is a list, no way you can list all of them, I think up to ten most important should be enough - her books should be listed, rather then articles she has written.
8. Honours
9. See also
10. References
11. Further reading
12. External links

Comments ? ---- Xil/talk 13:57, 9 September 2007 (UTC)

I've now added a selection of her scholarly and other works, reflecting the span of years and interests. Perhaps you might consider re-naming the culture section something along the lines of "Engagement with issues of Latvian culture and identity". — Zalktis 15:13, 9 September 2007 (UTC)

I'd prefer something a bit shorter, like "Activities in Latvian diaspora", which might also be bad because it (kind of) partly excludes her research work -- Xil/talk 15:58, 9 September 2007 (UTC)

UN Secretary General postulation

At the begining of the article, it says that she was "oficcially" postulated to be the Sec. Gen. of the UN. This is completly contradicting the United Nations Secretary-General selection, 2006 article that, in the 'Background to the 2006 race' section states that evendoe there was a campaign for a women to be the Secretary General, there were no official postolations made. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 190.198.100.192 (talk) 03:53, 9 July 2010 (UTC)

No, it isn't, it seems you didn't bother to read everything the other article says ~~Xil (talk) 05:26, 9 July 2010 (UTC)

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