More riots in the Baltics

[Joanne98]

Source: IHT

MOSCOW: Riots broke out once again in the Baltic states on Friday, this time in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, where a group of 7,000 gathered to protest planned economic austerity measures. A smaller group began throwing eggs and stones through the windows of government buildings until the police moved in, using tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

The episode was nearly identical to one on Tuesday in Latvia, when a peaceful protest of 10,000 people erupted into violence. And on Wednesday, a gathering of 2,000 in Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, began throwing stones and snowballs at the Parliament building, calling for the nation's leaders to resign.

In all three countries, years of steady economic growth have come to a jarring halt, and citizens are facing layoffs and cuts in wages. In each case, the authorities were left wondering whether they were facing organized activism or just the anger of people whose expectations have been disappointed. "I think this is just the beginning," said Anders Aslund, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington. "We should expect this to happen in many places."

Like its neighbor, Latvia, Lithuania has enjoyed a reputation as a "Baltic tiger," buoyed by foreign investment, a housing boom and annual growth rates of around 8 percent. Although Lithuania is not facing as dire an outlook as Latvia, economists predict a 5 percent drop in gross domestic product there next year, and the newly elected Parliament has announced tough austerity measures: workers in the public sector will see pay cuts of up to 15 percent, pensions will fall and an array of taxes will rise.



Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/17/europe/baltic.1-409790.php

[LiberalEsto]

1. I have to wonder

whether these riots are being instigated by Russians living in Latvia and Lithuania at the behest of Putin, in an attempt to destabilize the small nations.

[Dr.Phool]

2. I have to wonder

How long before it starts here.

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. As soon as people here know the Patriot Act will not brand protestors as terrorists,

I would expect more people to protest if need be.
Esp. if talk about the draft increases.

[infidel dog]

3. Take it from a Litvak, Putin has a claw in this...

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. no doubt.

But Latvia is in more trouble than Lithuania. The Soviets replaced almost half of the population in Latvia (Siberia was such a nice place to visit) with Russians. Only 15% in Lithuania.

the three's membership in EU is like a bone in his throat.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

7. just got off the phone with Vilnius.

someone I know in the consulate.

It is NOT Putin related. Seimas, the Lithuanian Parliament, has a budget crisis. Under EU rules, they are being forced to take some steps to deal with it. One of their efforts? To tax retired persons' benefits, to increase costs for med care and medicines, and to cut other aid to old folks. Those people protesting are all retired, many are ill, and some are destitute.

[Doctor Cynic]

8. For starters, if the US GDP were to contract 5% this year for sure there will be riots.

[Taverner]

11. DINGDINGDINGDINGDING! We have a winner!

Most likely Ethic Russians who are part of Nashi

They have a habit of this sort of things

[ohio2007]

6. but is there an oil pipeline somehow involved ?

seems all 'disturbances' around the world are focused over planned pipelines.

:sarcasm:

[SOS]

9. No, these countries were ruined by foreign banks and their local lackeys

"One of the striking features of the situation in Lithuania and the rest of the Baltics is the extent to which bank loans have been used to finance the external deficit. Regular readers will know this story very well as it tells about how foreign banks have been very eager to supply loans denominated in Euros and Swiss Francs to an extensive part of households and corporations in the Baltic economies."

http://clausvistesen.squarespace.com/alphasources-blog/2008/2/27/a-change-in-discourse-on-lithuania.html

The same Wall Street gangsters who robbed the US to the point of collapse.

“We are here today because this government is mocking us,” said Liucija Mukiene, a 63-year-old protester in Vilnius.
“They are taking away our last money and providing nothing. I am fed up with the lies, corruption and those grinning, fat faces behind the windows of parliament.”

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breaking/index.aspx?c=world&jp=mhsneysneyey

Sounds familiar.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Lithuania and Latvia both want to adopt the Euro

so that probably explains the budgetary constraints mentioned in post #7:

On 19 December 2007 the Lithuanian government approved the Convergence Programme of Lithuania for 2007. The Convergence Programme confirmed that Lithuania will make efforts to join the euro area as soon as possible. According to the available data, the best period for joining the euro area starts in 2010.

http://www.euro.lt/en/about-the-euro-adoption-in-lithuania/euro-and-lithuania/the-adoption-of-the-euro/

Latvia joined the European Union in 2004 and is currently preparing to adopt the euro.
...
Status: Latvia is not yet a member of the euro area. The Latvian lats joined the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM II) on 2 May 2005, and observes a central rate of 0.702804 to the euro with standard fluctuation margins of ±15, but Latvia unilaterally maintains a 1% fluctuation band around the central rate.

Exchange rate: The current euro to lats foreign exchange reference rate can be consulted on the website of the European Central Bank (updated daily).

Adoption of the euro: Latvia currently has no target date for the adoption of the euro.

http://www.eubusiness.com/Euro/latvia-and-the-euro/

[sixmile]

12. Funny how Police and Soldiers are always well fed

and have steady employment.