“Mr. Žemaitaitis’s anti-Semitic attitudes – they are not bad because they can be heard from partners or something from abroad. But because they are ideologically bad. This is not the path chosen by Lithuania to incite hatred on an ethnic or religious basis,” A. Skaisgirytė told “Žinių radio” on Tuesday.
“I would think that these provisions would significantly complicate the attempts of Mr. Žemaitaitis’s party, if it enters the Seimas, to join some kind of coalition. The party leaders should rethink whether these anti-Semitic statements will bring good or harm. I would think more damage,” added the adviser.
According to A. Skaisgirytė, such anti-Semitic statements of R. Žemaitaitis can cause concern not only for Germany, as the president mentioned earlier.
“This is important both for Israel and for other countries. However, I say once again, the most important thing is the position of Lithuania itself in relation to anti-Semitic sentiments. And saying out loud that anti-Semitic sentiments should not be tolerated is very important,” the adviser concluded.
The party “Nemunas Aušra” led by R. Žemaitaitis has recently been often mentioned as one of the likely members of the new ruling majority. Such speeches were reinforced by Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, the chairwoman of the Social Democrats, who are considered favorites in the Seimas elections, hinting that she would not rule out the possibility of forming a ruling coalition with Nemunas Aušra.
However, last Friday, V. Blinkevičiūtė denied her previously expressed considerations. The social democrat assured that she could hardly imagine joint work in a coalition with “Nemunas ausra” led by Remigius Žemaitaitis, who violated the Constitution. According to her, R. Žemaitaitis crossed the line with his behavior.
On his part, G. Nausėda mentioned in the LRT TV show that R. Žemaitaitis’ anti-Semitic statements and the possibility that the party led by the politician may be in the next Seimas, received a reaction from abroad as well – the head of state named Germany as one of Lithuania’s most important partners.
ELTA reminds that in April of this year, R. Žemaitaitis decided to give up his mandate as a member of the Seimas. The politician made this decision after the Constitutional Court recognized that he broke the oath of the Seimas member with anti-Semitic statements and grossly violated the Constitution.
If R. Žemaitaitis had not voluntarily given up his post, the parliament would have voted on his fate in the Seimas – if R. Žemaitaitis was removed from the Seimas by impeachment, he would not be able to run for elected positions for 10 years.
Last year, R. Žemaitaitis published anti-Semitic, national discord-inciting posts on the Facebook social network and public information tools – the Seimas commission, which considered the issue of impeachment, believed that with such actions the politician possibly broke the oath of the Seimas member and grossly violated the Constitution.
2024-09-10 09:50:33