“Neither the government nor the Saeima really understands what it is doing,” protesters gathered outside the Cabinet of Ministers building said last weekend while opposing the introduction of a vignette fee for commercial vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes. The draft law has now been sent back to the Saeima for a second review. Does this mean politicians have finally begun listening to public discontent? BNN put the question to Filip Rajevskis, political scientist and co-owner of the company Mediju tilts.
Why have political decisions pushed people to the point of bringing a wheelbarrow loaded with manure — topped with a withered Christmas tree — to the government building? Rajevskis says this is the result of decisions being made without listening to or engaging in discussion with society, while also ignoring the objective realities of Latvia’s economy.
“It was also concealed that objections to this draft law had been submitted by industry representative organisations — and politicians are still surprised that the public is so outraged? This reflects their attitude toward taxpayers, because this measure primarily affects the ‘salt’ of our economy: small and medium-sized entrepreneurs, family businesses — people who earn their own living day in and day out and pay taxes,” Rajevskis said.
Asked whether public protests can influence decisions made by the ruling coalition, the political scientist responded unequivocally that they can.
“Public influence arises because overall political ratings are low and trust levels are low.
In such a situation, the political environment is very vulnerable to protests and external pressure. If the ruling coalition enjoyed high public trust, none of this would be happening — they would feel confident in themselves and in their support,” he explained.
Responding to BNN’s question about whether sending the vignette proposal back to the Saeima for a second review can be considered a victory for society, Rajevskis answered in the affirmative.
“I hope the government does not ignore this public sentiment. Because if, at this level of tension, it were to start ignoring it, there would not be just one wheelbarrow of manure outside the government building, but a whole truck. The protests would also be much larger. That is why I do not believe the ruling coalition would dare to leave everything as it is.”
Rajevskis also pointed out that
revenue from the vignette for commercial vehicles under 3.5 tonnes has already been factored into the state budget,
meaning the government will now have to look for alternative sources of revenue elsewhere.
In response to BNN’s remark that Latvian society has so far rarely resisted decisions that negatively affect its interests — usually grumbling quietly while opening its wallets and paying — Rajevskis said the situation now appears to be changing.
“The public reactions to the Istanbul Convention, and now this issue, are mobilising society. If we look at what is happening in neighbouring Lithuania, where large-scale protests are taking place outside the Seimas over public media issues, I think an atmosphere has formed in which these may not be the last protests we see,” he concluded.
Read also: President of Latvia halts vignette price increase: law must be reconsidered