2024-05-05 19:01:00
It is true that this debate is a bit different from what we have seen on TV screens before. They were held not in a regular studio, but in the courtyard of the Lukiški prison in the capital. The debate is organized by the non-partisan political monitoring network “I know what I’m voting for”.
A huge group of curious people gathered to ask the candidates for the presidency, who could ask the chosen candidates the questions they wanted during the event.
Famous politicians of the country were also seen in the crowd – Mayor of Širvintos District Živilė Pinskuvienė and Chairman of the Party of Regions Jonas Pinskus, Social Democrat Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, Vilnius District Mayor Robertas Duchnevičius, Freedom Party member Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius, Minister Simonas Kairys.
They went on stage to songs of their own choosing
Each of the candidates entered the stage playfully – they had to do their “homework” in advance, that is, choose a song that they would go on stage with.
Democratic candidate Giedrim Jeglinskas entered the stage with the song “Born to run” by Bruce Springsteen. Labor Party candidate Andrius Mazuronis chose AC/DC’s song TNT President Gitanas Nausėda, who is seeking a second term, took the podium to the sound of the song “Touch and go” by the group “Emerson”.
Conservative presidential candidate Ingrida Šimonytė entered the stage to the sound of “Anties” song “Lithuanian State”. Eduardas Vaitkus, a self-employed physician, came to the sound of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.
Also, self-proclaimed lawyer Ignas Vēgėlė took to the stage with Eurika Masytė’s song “Laisvė”, candidate of the Freedom Party Dainius Žalimas – the song “House Of The Rising Sun” from the group “The Animals”.
The chairman of the “Nemunos ausra” party, Remigijus Žemaitaitis, took the stage to the sound of Gytis Paškevičius’ song “My Country”.
Blitz turas
The first candidate – A. Mazuronis – was asked what kind of household work he would like to avoid. A. Mazuronis mentioned grass cutting – a “worker” said that he even moved from his house to an apartment closer to the city, in order to avoid “tiring, aimless, very complicated constant grass cutting”.
G. Nausėda was asked how he decides whether a person can be trusted and accepted into his team. In his opinion, “the eyes say everything”, so you need to look at them very carefully.
“When they are too clever, they can draw their own conclusions,” said G. Nausėda, adding that all the people who work with him are already checked not only by eyes, but also by time.
I.Šimonytė received a question about the last book she read. She replied that she had read three books in the last few months – all of them were by Lithuanian authors. The very last book was “The Agent” by Bernardo Gailius.
D. Žalimas was asked what his characteristic would be, if he could be one – he answered that he values self-determination the most, because a true leader must be able to make a choice.
E. Vaitkaus was asked how he would behave when his team and colleagues disagreed with his opinion. He said that he would raise the question, maybe he himself is wrong.
“It is necessary to discuss, the question is why they do not agree. I’m a little boy, born in October”, answered E. Vaitkus, and this ambiguous statement of his received shouts of surprise from the audience.
R. Žemaitaitis is asked in which country besides Lithuania he would like to live – he named Spain – he likes Spanish culture and cuisine.
G. Jeglinsko was asked about the last performance he saw.
“Ugh, you got it… I was with the kids, we were at a great play, the musical Back to the Future,” he recalled.
I. Vēgėlė was asked what sport he would play if he were an athlete – he named outdoor tennis. True, he added that if he had to make such a decision earlier, before he knew his current height, he would pursue a career as a basketball player.
Got a personal question
The question-and-answer session continued.
I. Vēgėlė was asked about his previous statement that the opening of the Taiwanese representative office was beneficial to G. Nausėda, because he was supported during the election campaign by the company “Teltonika”, which receives significant benefits from the opening of the Taiwanese representative office, but I. Vēgėlė himself deals in Chinese trade.
When asked if this is not a conflict of interest, I. Vēgėlė retorted that the debate presenters themselves are currently using Chinese microphones, and in general 80 percent. electronics in Lithuania, according to him, is Chinese.
“We need to make decisions that benefit the state. If they are not useful for the entire state, they are not useful for all companies either,” he assured.
“Dear Igna, may I ask why you don’t like the Teltonika company?” G. Nausėda asked.
I. Vēgėlė replied that he likes the company, but he does not like the politicians who profit from the Teltonika company. “Some politicians profit from their parents and their brothers,” snapped G. Nausėda, to which I. Vēgėlė answered with his question – whether the country’s leader grew up in an orphanage.
G. Nausėdai, the host of the debate, reminded that in 2019, when running for president, he emphasized the vision of the welfare state, but now it is obvious that a lot of work remains unfulfilled. When asked why he did not fulfill his promises, G. Nausėda did not agree that the situation is so bad.
According to him, some of the promises have really been implemented, especially in the field of foreign policy and security, pensions. Although, according to G. Nausėda, some things could not be accomplished or were not done enough, more focused work with the Government should be done as well.
I. Šimonyte was reminded at that time that she even threatened to resign several times – first because of the fertilizer transit scandal, then – because of the so-called “cheques” scandal. I.Šimonytė gave a short answer when asked how voters can be sure that she will not threaten and withdraw when she is president and in the event of a crisis.
“After all, I’m working, aren’t I?”, she asked, adding that she would not want to comment on the rumours.
“But there are moments in politics when you have to consider whether you are doing your job well, and it is possible that politicians choose to leave,” said I.Šimonytė.
She added that she had never considered doing it herself because the work was difficult. “Voters can be calm,” assured I.Šimonytė.
At that time, E. Vaitkaus was asked how he is preparing to gather people – because it can be seen from his public statements that he encourages distrust in state institutions, questions Lithuania’s membership in international organizations and wants to maintain good relations with Russia.
However, E. Vaitkus himself did not agree with this, stating that the issue is being “wrongly emphasized” – according to him, it is necessary to gather around the Constitution, which is “many times broken by our local traitors”.
It is true that the current leader of the country also reacted to these words of E. Vaitkaus.
“We are forced to file an appeal, because I see that time stopped when Mr. Vaitkas was speaking,” commented G. Nausėda, whose words were accompanied by loud applause.
D. Žalim was asked about the contract concluded between his wife and the Freedom Party regarding consultations during the election campaign. Later, the candidate himself admitted that it was a mistake, the money paid was returned.
“I think my wife would make a great first lady. No one has any questions about competence here,” said D. Žalimas as he began his answer.
He said that the contract was concluded legally, openly and transparently, and it was available to everyone.
R. Žemaitaitis was asked how a person who has violated both the oath of a member of the Seimas and the Constitution, and who responds with hate speech to one of our national groups, can be the president of Lithuania.
He picked up the phone and played a quote from Faina Kukliansky, the chairman of the Lithuanian Jewish community, in which she said that “Jews hate Lithuanians more than Lithuanians hate Jews.”
“Do you still have any questions for me? I will never allow anti-Semitism to be rampant in Lithuania. You are doing this yourself”, snapped R. Žemaitaitis.
A yes or no round
It soon became possible to access questions to which candidates could answer yes or no by holding up the appropriate tables.
First of all, the candidates were asked whether two persons of the same sex, who are a couple, live together and have a joint farm, can be called a family. Only two candidates answered positively – I. Šimonytė and D. Žalimas, at that time G. Jeglinskas held the card showing yes or no half raised, half lowered.
G. Nausėda noticed that the conservatives represented by I. Šimonytė, and the Freedom Party that nominated D. Žalima, who are in power, have not regulated the relationship between these people in four years, and now they are raising “yes” signs.
I. Šimonytė replied that some politicians simply do not fulfill their obligations, and she is disappointed about that.
Later, the candidates were asked whether they would do so if the day X came, and the authorities responsible for them, as heads of state, recommended them to leave the country and operate abroad – all the candidates put up their “no” signs.
In the third question, the candidates were asked whether they would approve of sending Lithuanian soldiers to Ukraine. G. Nausėda, I. Šimonytė, G. Jeglinskas, D. Žalimas and A. Mazuronis answered “Yes”. R. Žemaitaitis, E. Vaitkus and I. Vēgėlė would not support such a decision.
To the question of whether they would support the preservation of citizenship, most of the candidates answered “yes”, but I. Vēgėlė and E. Vaitkus felt undecided – they turned the table one way, then the other.
Candidates were asked whether they support women’s right to abortion. “No” was answered only by R. Žemaitaitis, in turn I. Vēgėlė did not show the answer, although later she clarified that she supports the choice of women.
On his part, R. Žemaitaitis argued that he is a person of faith, so his religious beliefs are against abortion. True, his words received a stormy reaction from the audience.
The presidential election will be held on May 12. Early voting will begin on Tuesday.
2024-05-05 19:01:00