Farmers' protest alert. Is this just the beginning?
About a month ago, the portal „Agrobite.lt“ interviewed Audrius Vanagas, the head of the Lithuanian Grain Growers Association (LGAA), and Martynas Puidoka, the vice-chairman of the Lithuanian Farmers' Union (LFA), about the tax changes. At the time, none of the interlocutors could say exactly what farmers would do if they were not heard. Today it is clear – despite the work week getting into full swing, farmers will gather in Vilnius on Thursday for a warning protest action.
What demands will be made of the Government?
„It sounds banal, but we farmers are being completely ignored“, – says the LGAA leader bluntly. It seems that the current government does not listen to farmers. „So, in this situation, we see no other way than to go out again to protest and to legitimately demand what we have put forward in our proposals“, – continues Vanagas. LGAA's leader says that farmers would accept the Ministry of Agriculture's draft proposal for the GPT, which would see a 15 per cent tax on those earning up to 60 VDU and a 20 per cent tax on those earning above 60 VDU. „Another ambition – is to reduce the tax hump that is created for medium and family farms due to the high Soda taxes. We would like to see taxes calculated on 50% of tax-free income instead of the current 90%“, – says Mr Vanag. Taxation of roads – would be another issue that the picketing farmers would like to address. „Increasing road tax could attack agricultural primary production and deal another blow“, – the LGAA leader is convinced. Farming community unhappy „Not only have our proposals not been taken into account, but there hasn't even been an attempt to discuss them“ – Vanagas does not hide his disappointment. The head of the LGAA says that this time the protest is initiated by farmers themselves. The tax changes will hit many medium-sized, family-run farms really hard, so the discontent in the farming community is coming from the grassroots. „Changing the GPT tax, increasing it from the current regime by 33%, 66% or even 113% on the relevant thresholds is truly inadequate. It is socially irresponsible behaviour and grossly irresponsible,– the gravity of the situation is illuminated by the LGAA leader. What is the next step if the authorities still do not react? It is difficult to say what the next step might be, but it will be a wave not less than the one a year ago, that is for sure," says Vanagas. Protest this Thursday About 500 farmers and over 100 tractors are expected to gather outside Parliament on Thursday. The protest will take place just as the tax laws are about to be passed. In addition to the tax changes already mentioned, the farming community is also concerned about insurance taxes. There are fears that crop insurance may be taxed. A one-day protest is planned for the time being.
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