Viktoras Pranckietis, a representative of the ruling Liberal Movement and Chairman of the Rural Affairs Committee of the Seimas, did not spare the activities of the Minister of Agriculture K.Navickas, who was recently under pressure to withdraw from the organizations uniting some farmers.
“I have to admit – there was a mistake in the choice [ministrą]. A person who comes from a completely different field does not do the work that needs to be done. ” Morning V.Pranckietis spoke in the show “Not for the press”.
Calls for a change of minister
According to him, K. Navickas does not have the necessary competence to work, moreover, he damaged relations with farmers.
The Minister, he believes, is the time to change and initiatives on this, according to the MP, should be taken by the Government.
The government has to make a technical decision.
“I think if the minister does not understand, the government must understand. The government has to make a technical decision. If that decision turns into a political one, something will be initiated in the Seimas, and that something will be interpellation, ”V. Pranckietis said.
Photo by Sigismund Gedvila / 15min / Viktor Pranckietis
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“It is not possible to learn how to work for a year as a minister and to show the whole of Lithuania, the whole sector that the minister has to lead, the whole being, how you are not suitable to hold such a position,” he noted.
The politician considered that K. Navickas could be replaced by a member of the Seimas from the Conservatives.
I think there is a way to agree
Kazys Starkevičius, the Conservative of the Seimas and the Chairman of the Economic Committee, discussed that K. Navickas could still reconcile with farmers if he mobilized non-governmental agricultural organizations and reached a national agreement on future work and direction.
“If the minister were able to prepare it, it would be one of the few,” K. Starkevičius said.
Photo by Sigismund Gedvila / 15min / Kazys Starkevičius
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Failure to do so will make it difficult to work.
“The most important thing is that the Minister assesses the current situation and seeks contact with agricultural organizations,” K. Starkevičius noted.
After the Lithuanian Agriculture Council called on K. Navickas to retire, the Conservatives who delegated him to office will consider whether the Minister can continue working, K. Starkevičius said:
After these latest events, there will certainly be an interview in the group and decisions will be taken.
“After these latest events, there will certainly be a conversation in the group and decisions will be made, one way or another.”
It is true that K. Navickas was blocked by another organization uniting a number of farmers – the Chamber of Agriculture.
He sees no reason to leave
Ieva Pakarklytė, the elder of the Seimas Freedom Faction, spoke a little differently. According to her, there is no reason to even consider the departure of K. Navickas.
“I haven’t heard much arguments to consider such a thing at all,” 15min she said, adding that the group had not discussed it.
I haven’t heard much arguments to consider such a thing at all
In addition, the politician noted that the Freedom Group does not have a representative in the Rural Affairs Committee, which means that it is not very confronted with agricultural issues:
“As the group does not have a representative in the Committee on Rural Affairs, there is less to face.”
Photo by Sigismund Gedvila / 15min / Ieva Pakarklytė
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“As far as animal welfare issues are concerned, the Minister’s approach is appropriate, he understands those topics,” I. Pakarklytė added.
Criticism from the opposition
Distrust of K. Navickas has already been expressed by the opposition in the Seimas.
The Lithuanian Regional Group called on the President, Prime Minister, parties and factions in the Seimas to “take immediate action to resolve the deepening conflict between the Minister and the farming community”.
He also called on K. Navickas to resign and on the Prime Minister to “take a decisive decision on the change of minister”.
“K. Navickas finds it difficult to cope with his responsibilities. We see that it will be even more difficult, because the lack of cooperation, dialogue and such a low level of communication with the large agricultural community can become an obstacle for the whole government to implement the set agricultural policy guidelines and strategy, “the group told the media.
Such a low-level style of communication with an abundant agricultural community can become an obstacle for the entire Government.
K. Navickas’ knowledge and activities were also criticized by Kęstutis Mažeika, a member of the Seimas Committee on Rural Affairs.
“A person who has no understanding of agriculture makes decisions that actually ruin that area.
As for the green course, which is what the Minister is talking about the most, but we do not see any concrete solutions and ways to help farmers, agriculture to achieve a breakthrough in that place. ” 15min commented on the policy.
Photo by Lukas Balandi / 15min / Kęstutis Mažeika
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Calls for not wasting time with interpellation
According to him, the Minister of Agriculture has lost the support of the members of the committee, and part of the partners in the coalition no longer trust him:
“There is absolutely no support in the committee, there is also public criticism among the governing bodies. I think the minister should really think about it. And if not, the prime minister should think. “
And if the Prime Minister does not think, is interpellation for the Minister possible in the Seimas?
K.Mažeika replied that it would be a waste of time:
“We do not have that time, especially in the agricultural sector. We already need a plan of measures, investments in how we will adapt and move in the direction of the green course. “
According to the Social Democrats, K. Navickas’ work in office should depend on his ability to coordinate, prepare and present strategic agricultural plans together with the social partners.
They must be submitted to the European Union before the end of the year.
We want to very responsibly encourage the minister to help personal ambitions to the country.
“There are two months left and we want to very responsibly encourage the minister to help his personal ambitions to the country and ensure a smooth European legislative process,” said Social Democrat Mindaugas Maciulevičius in a statement to the media.
He does not intend to retreat, appreciates the support of the Prime Minister
The Lithuanian Agriculture Council called on K.Navickas to resign because the minister, according to the organization, does not solve problems in the agricultural sector, lacks his leadership, and lacks dialogue.
If the situation does not change, the council has threatened to protest.
For his part, K. Navickas stated that he did not intend to resign and “give up the green course”.
According to him, the Lithuanian Agricultural Council, and especially grain farmers dissatisfied with the green exchange rate, is putting political pressure on him.
“Behind these phrases [atsistatydinti] there is an interest in not having a green course, and it will have the greatest impact on the cereal sector. For example, arable land should account for 4% under the directive. uncultivated land – that is, must decrease in intensity.
Another related thing is crop rotation, ie farmers growing wheat, barley and other crops will have to replace them with soil-improving crops every few years, ”said K. Navickas, whose statement was quoted by BNS.
K.Navickas press conference:
VIDEO: Navick’s comments on the Agriculture Council’s threats of protest actions: he sees no reason to withdraw
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The Minister of Agriculture assured that he maintains a dialogue with representatives of individual sectors, the same Agriculture Council, said he was not afraid of protests.
“The support of the political leadership – the prime minister, the president – is very important in this place,” he said.
He says he is working constructively with the minister
Support for the Minister of Agriculture expressed another farmers’ organization – the Chamber of Agriculture.
“We do not support the frequent change of ministers, as this has a negative impact on the smooth work of the Ministry of Agriculture and the agricultural and rural development processes.
There is no reason to prevent the current Minister of Agriculture from working constructively.
There is currently a very intensive dialogue with the Ministry of Agriculture on the application of eco-schemes – there are no reasons that would hinder the constructive work with the current Minister of Agriculture, ”Algis Baravykas, Vice-President of the Chamber, told the media.
According to BNS, farmers have recently been facing various challenges – falling grain yields, declining milk production, a critical situation in the pork sector, but these problems are unresolved.
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