Tractors roll into Riga-Minister resigns

Feb 04, 2009
TBT Staff

Farmers braved the cold to protest around the clock. Photo: Kate McIntosh

Though Roze resigned on public television, Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis is withholding his decision on Roze’s resignation until he has received an official letter of resignation, telling press “not to hurry the events.”

"The minister has made a brave decision. The main thing is that such a decision has been made -- it is his work and an attempt to improve the situation, extinguishing the fire. There is also pressure and demands, possible unrests... the minister informed me about that," said Godmanis.

Roze’s reason for his resignation, he said, was that he has met the promises and the Agriculture Ministry's program has been adopted by the government on Tuesday and dairy farmers and other farmers will have additional resources. He also said that demands that were of economic nature at the beginning, turned into political demands later, adding that peaceful protests can grow into serious problems.

"We should also take into account that the Agriculture Ministry cannot function in such a situation as the decision has to be implemented... but if the ministry's work is paralyzed, no farmer would be able to receive this support," said Roze.

He also said that he has received threats and his decision to resign has been made to protect his family.

Farmers staging massive protests in the countryside as well as Riga had demanded Roze’s resignation.  

The Latvian government decided at a meeting on Feb. 3 to allocate additional 27 million lats (EUR 38.4 mln) for loan guarantees to the dairy industry, allowing farmers struggling to repay their loans and postpone payments of the loan principal for one year.

Farmers said that the government's decision partly meets their four economic requirements and they have to be implemented in a month. Nevertheless, farmers still demanded resignation of the minister, resolving to wait by the ministry's building until it happens.

Farmers sbegan to leave after Maira Dzelzkaleja, the deputy chairwoman of the organization Farmers' Parliament, informed them that Roze plans to announce his resignation.

According to the Farmers' Parliament, several thousands of farmers with several hundreds of tractors and other agriculture machinery have taken part in the Feb. 3 protest campaign, lighting bonfires to keep warm. Events were peaceful, as farmers travelled in the night to avoid tying up traffic in the early morning.

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