Farmers in the capital stage another protest: two days of protests at the Seimas

Farmers who protested outside the Seimas last week are gathering on Wednesday for another two-day protest against the government's tax reform, which is on its way out.

„Things are still hot so far, our farmers have seen the attitude of the ruling majority towards them, specifically the Social Democrats, as very few of them came to speak to us. We have heard accusations against us from individual politicians, and the community is reacting very sensitively," Audrius Vanagas, chairman of the Lithuanian Grain Growers' Association (LGAA), told Elta a week ago after the farmers' first protest.

As previously reported, on 19 June farmers gathered near the Seimas to protest against the government's tax reform and demanded that the parliament reduce the proposed personal income tax (PIT) rates. Farmers turned out with several hundred tractors in a warning protest against the tax bulldozer.

On Monday, Gabrielius Grubinskas, a spokesman for Vilnius City Municipality, said that during the upcoming protest, 300 farm machinery will be allowed to park on Gediminas Avenue from A. Goštauto Street to Gynėjų Street and on the part of Gynėjų Street from Gediminas Avenue to A. Tumėnas Street. Traffic will also be restricted on these streets from 9:00 on 25 June until 21:00 on 26 June.

About 500 people are expected to take part in the protest.

ELTA recalls that on Thursday the Seimas is scheduled to vote for the last time on the most controversial amendments to the GPM and the real estate tax.

After a debate, it was agreed to tax personal income more progressively from 2026 at three rates: 20, 35 and 32 per cent.

However, the Seimas has come up with initiatives to apply income tax benefits to farmers – it was proposed to tax their income up to 12 average wages (average wages) per year (next year – about 27.6 thousand euros) by 5%, from 12 to 36 average wages (about 83 thousand euros) by 15%, and above 36 average wages (about 83 thousand euros) by 20%, but the Seimas has rejected the initiative.

A proposal to tax farmers' income at two rates – 15% and 20%, depending on whether the income is less or more than 36 VDU (about €138,000 per year) was also registered.

The tax changes are due to come into force in 2026.