«Two weeks ago the Saeima approved the state budget plan that includes changes to the Micro-enterprise Tax Law. These changes are expected to end the temporary preferential tax treatment established for micro-enterprises during the crisis. Intended changes caused an uproar among businessmen. President Raimonds Vejonis returned amendments back to the Saeima for a second viewing. And chaos began,» – journalist Aivars Ozolins wrote for Ir magazine.

He reminded that «Kucinskis had promised not to raise taxes in 2017. Failure to comply with promises is not something out of the ordinary for Union of Greens and Farmers. But the consequences for our country could be massive and serious.»

He believes «the situation can be described in a short way – Kucinskis’ government has ruined its own budget. Political psychologists could mention whether that was a natural reflex of the party’s members. UGF has always been obsessed with its ratings. Whenever it was in the government, the party behaved as internal opposition. It is popular to criticize the government’s work. It is convenient to dump responsibility for unpopular decisions on others. It is so convenient that the people in power failed to notice that it was their own budget that they ruined.

UGF has always been interested in acquiring money for itself and its associates using political blackmail. Opposition parties were the only obstacle for this. We saw in the Saeima during the viewing of the reckless budget that UGF is the main divider – with no regards to decency and reason.»

«But the internal opposition reflex is strong. UGF has decided to pin the blame for the chaos in business on the party of the former prime minister, which – oh horror! – is not in a hurry to support Kucinskis’ idea to raise taxes and cancel social fees, instead wishing to see at least some estimates from the prime minister and finance minister on the possible impact of such changes on the budget, wages and pensions.

[…] Brigmanis and Kucinskis would like it if everyone forgot that the briefcase containing the budget plan with seeds of chaos was carried to the Saeima on 14 October by Finance Minister Dana Reizniece-Ozola. It turns out that Lembergs’ loyal minister, who was listed among Europe’s reformists by Politico for whatever reason, could not even think two moves ahead in relation to the impact of changes on Latvia’s business and political situation. And this lady who intends to sort out Latvia’s crisis-impacted finances may become Latvia’s prime minister at some point, as Politico suggests?» – Ozolins asks rhetorically.

«Fearing poor ratings, UGF tried satisfying everyone who could potentially protest and thereby impact the party’s ratings. As a result, Kucinskis’ government put itself in a situation where everyone is in a state of shock, which could potentially become worse, because a self-made crisis can have no popular solutions.

What is there to recommend to Kucinskis and UGF? Any other government would inevitably consist of the same cancerous tumours that are found in the Saeima. With that – as you were, Maris!» – Ozolins wrote for Ir magazine.

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