Several hundred demand reduced VAT rate on heating

RIGA - This morning, several hundred people gathered at the Saeima building to call on the parliament to reduce value added tax on heating.

The rally was quite noisy, many protesters held placards with the names of the cities of Riga, Liepaja, Daugavpils, Rezekne and Ventspils.

Some of them also addressed the parliament more directly - "Aboltina, Help the Nation Instead Of Your Husband's Business!" Other placards included a frozen senior citizen saying "Unity, Why?," "Merry Christmas!," "42 Percent Of Children Will Live Out In The Cold This Winter," "Children, We Will Not Eat Today, We Will Pay For Heating."

Riga Mayor Nils Usakovs (Harmony Center) was also at the scene, explaining that he had no illusions about the parliament supporting the motion and allowed the possibility that other protests could follow.

The demonstration was organized by the trade union "LABA."

"LABA" is demanding that the value added tax rate on heating be reduced from the current 12 percent to 5 percent.