Ramoliņš: Gaiķis tried to influence "Norupe" sawmill deal under political pressure

Andris Ramoliņš, owner and board chairman of SIA "Stiga RM," published a statement on social media accusing former Competition Council (KP) head Juris Gaiķis of trying to influence the closing of the "Norupe" sawmill acquisition deal because of political pressure.

According to Ramoliņš, his company has already taken the matter to court, filing suit against both Gaiķis personally and the Competition Council as an institution. The lawsuit suggests that "Stiga RM" considers the Council's handling of the deal's review to have been improper or outside its authority, while Ramoliņš attributes the former chairman's involvement to political influence rather than impartial competition oversight.

The statement was made public through social media and represents a one-sided account from the businessman's perspective — no official response from the Competition Council or from Gaiķis himself regarding the allegations has been reported so far.

Role of the Competition Council

The Competition Council is a state institution tasked with reviewing corporate merger and acquisition deals to determine whether they would restrict competition within a given sector. Companies that believe the institution or its officials have acted unlawfully or exerted undue influence are entitled to challenge such actions in court, which is what has occurred in this case.

The dispute over the acquisition of the "Norupe" sawmill has thus become a public conflict between a businessman and a former head of the country's competition watchdog, with the outcome now left for the courts to decide.