High expectations for the successor to the Minister for Agriculture

After the collapse of the government formed by G. Palucko, Lithuanian farmers unanimously expressed their support for Ignas Hofmanas, former Minister of Agriculture. However, with the change of the ruling coalition, talk of new ministerial portfolios has started. While initially it seemed that Mr Hofmann was in a strong position, there is now talk that the current Deputy Minister, Mr Andrius Palionis, may become the new Minister of Agriculture. What do farmers think of this nomination?

LGAA leader Audrius Vanagas: „We hope that the work of I. Hofmanas will be continued“

„First of all, I would like to stress that the farming community sees only one candidate for Minister of Agriculture – that is Ignas Hofmann. He has done a good job and we do not understand the reasons for his dismissal. As far as we have heard, he was also suitable for the Presidency. There are many good things to say about this minister in general. Therefore, whatever his successors will be, unfortunately they will fade away“ – Audrius Vanagas, the head of the Lithuanian Grain Growers Association (LGAA), starts the conversation.

At the moment, Palionis was working as Deputy Minister of Agriculture, but Vanagas noted that he had not come into contact with him. It is therefore difficult to talk about the candidate's work, let alone the results. However, the head of the LGAA pointed out that Palionis' work had been focused.

Thus, summarising his own and farmers' expectations, Mr Vanagas stressed that he expects from the future Minister of Agriculture the continuation of the work started by Mr Hoffmann.

LUU President Raimundas Juknevičius: „This is a good alternative“

Lithuanian Farmers' Union (LFA) President R. Juknevičius says farmers strongly supported Mr Hofmann. "It is natural. Self-government always remains a constructive opposition to any government. But we certainly saw the prospect of working with Ignas Hofmanas.“

R. Juknevičius regretted that the opinion of non-governmental organisations was not sought when looking for a new candidate for the Ministry of Agriculture. „In this case, due to the ongoing wrangling in the Government, the position of LŪS was not asked. Perhaps they asked certain farmers. However, seeing this as a fact that we can no longer influence, because it is a political process, in our eyes it is still a good alternative to the former minister," the LŪS chairman summed up.

„We are approaching a very important period when the agricultural policy will be negotiated at European Union level. Lithuania will soon also hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU (2027) – therefore, our country's agricultural policy makers have a great opportunity to be more visible and audible“, – stressed R. Juknevičius, adding that he wished that Andris Palionis would bring together a strong team and supporters to help him to implement the entire work of the agricultural policy at the both the Lithuanian and the European level.

LUFA Vice-Chairman Vytautas Buivydas: more real focus on regions

„A. Palionis has already been a minister. He has experience. Moreover, I have not heard any negative feedback about him from the farming community," says V. Buivydas, Vice-Chairman of the Lithuanian Union of Young Farmers and Youth (LYYYU), and continues: "We can appreciate Palionis for being a man who keeps his word. According to the Vice-Chairman of LSUJS, this is a very strong trait both as a person and as a politician. So he expressed his support for him.

„There is a lot of talk at the moment about regional policy, about strengthening the regions, but we see what the situation really is. Millions of investments are coming into the regions and villages, but only a small proportion of farmers are taking them. I would like to wish for a fairer distribution of support, for a cap on support. Because we see that the gap between very large farmers and smaller farmers is widening considerably. So I hope that Mr Palionis, being a man from the region himself, sees this, understands it and will have the ambition, the goal and the support of the coalition to achieve it", – the Vice-Chairman of the Lithuanian Union of Farmers and Allied Farmers (LFUA) expressed his considerable expectations of the candidate for Agriculture Minister.

Ignas Duoba, chairman of the Šakiai District Farmers' Union: we don't want any surprises

„It is difficult to assess the situation, because I have not looked into it yet. But in short, we certainly do not expect any unpleasant surprises, because he has already been Minister of Agriculture. And in general, the expectations are neutral, if I may say so, because after Ignas Hofmann, probably all ministers will be worse," says I. Duoba, the chairman of the Šakiai District Farmers' Union (ŠRŪS).

When asked what he expects from the current candidate, the Chairman of ŠRŪS only echoes the other interlocutors: „Most of all, we are looking for a continuity of work from the future minister. There is a lot of good work that has been done by the current Minister and we hope that it will be built on. The simplification of bureaucratic requirements has really made everyday life easier for farmers.