RIGA, Dec 21 (LETA) - The long-time chairman of the Jelgava Regional Council Ziedonis Caune (Latvian Farmers' Union) plans to step down after municipal budget is passed ''due to political pressure''.

He said that the redistribution of power is taking place in the regional council at the moment, and that he is ''under political pressure''.

"The political interests with which the regional council members formed mutual agreements immediately after the elections culminate in strategic steps to strengthen positions of power and build political influence in the work of the regional council and influence in the formation of the executive branch," Caune explains.

Yesterday, seven regional council members signed a petition to call an emergency meeting to propose a vote of no confidence against Regional Council Member Liga Lonerte. The council member are dissatisfied with her work, claiming she has given misleading information and conducted wasteful spending of municipal funds.

According to Caune, those allegations have little to do with rational justification, but rather are taken out of context, exaggerated and, in general, easily justified. He believes that the action is deliberately aimed at achieving a different kind of political influence throughout the municipal administration.

The emergency regional council meeting is scheduled for December 23, while the regional council budget is planned to be passed in January of next year.