President on long road to recovery as nation tweets him well

By Friday morning his condition was described as stable with a positive tendency, said Lasma Sile, a spokeswoman for Stradins University Hospital on LTV.

Vējonis is still in intensive care but is on the first steps towards rehabilitation, Sile said.

At present presidential powers have been transferred to Saeima speaker Ināra Mūrniece (National Association) but a long-term absence on the part of the President - which seems increasingly likely - could complicate the legislative process.

Meanwhile, people have been taking to social media to wish the President a speedy recovery, using the hashtag #PrezidentVeselojies (Get well soon President).

Leading the way were children of Carnikava Elementary School whose efforts are sure to have put a smile on the Presidential face.

People in the central Latvian town of Madona went further still, uploading a video clip.

Estonia's new first lady - who just happens to be a Latvian citizen and a former colleague of Vejonis at the Ministry of Defense - also got in on the act.

Someone else reported to the world that Vejonis' features now adorned their refrigerator alongside the Pope.

As several observers noticed, tweeting the President back to full health may to some extent be filling the gap left by frenzied tweeting across the nation in support of Kristaps Porzingis' attempt to play in the All-Star basketball game in the United States.

But one tangible result of all the tweeting was already reported with the national blood donation service reporting near-capacity stocks following an appeal for donors.