“If, however, the situation forces even the five debating forces to agree, then the debate showed that Russia, as an irritant and cause of disagreements, will not disappear anywhere. Even worse, we may have politicians in the Seimas who, if not justifying Russia’s actions, will try to drag them into some strange diplomatic jargon, into some way of finding solutions and agreements that leads nowhere.
In this region where we live, history has repeatedly shown that the increase in Russian aggressiveness is vitally dangerous for the neighboring states,” said L. Kontrimas to Eltai.
The political scientist criticizes the consideration of Lithuanian People’s Party leader Eduard Vaitkaus to ask citizens whether they should withdraw from NATO, which was heard during the ELTA debates held on Thursday. According to him, such rhetoric is reminiscent of the Soviet mentality.
“I would recommend people who question the prospects of Lithuania’s presence in NATO and the EU to repeat a history course for several months. If people think that it is possible to exist neutrally next to Russia, only a historically poorly educated person can think so, or someone who intentionally brings a necessary and very useful narrative to Russia,” he said.
“He does not dare to express his opinion, he says that the people of Lithuania must answer. This kind of talking by politicians with the pronoun “we” demonstrates the old communist and Soviet mentality. According to my subjective wish, only people who are open and not afraid of their positions should be in the next Seimas. All those who hide behind the “we” are either involuntarily breaking it or becoming tools without realizing it. This is very dangerous”, taught L. Kontrimas.
R. Vilpišauskas: defense funding will have to be increased
Speaking about the relevance of the defense issue in the upcoming Seimas, Ramūnas Vilpišauskas, a political scientist at the VU Institute of International Relations and Political Sciences (TSPMI), considers that it may be necessary to increase the funding allocated to national defense.
“The issue of defense cannot lie on the sidelines as long as there is a war. The main question concerns what should be continued and what the new government will propose to adjust. But those corrections probably won’t have a strategic approach, but more of a tactical one,” said R. Vilpišauskas to Elta.
“Whether to continue increasing the funding depends on the effects that are foreseen and, probably, that the funding will have to be increased a little more, considering the need to invest in the reception of the German brigade as quickly as possible and various weapons, which, according to experts, Lithuania needs to prepare for the general conscription “, he added.
ELTA reminds that the Seimas elections will be held on October 13.
14 parties and one coalition will compete for 141 parliamentary mandates – Democratic Union “For Lithuania”, Freedom Party, Liberal Sujūdis, Lithuanian Polish Election Action-Union of Christian Families (LLRA-KŠS), Lithuanian People’s Party, Lithuanian Party of Regions, Lithuanian Social Democratic Party ( LSDP), Lithuanian Peasants and Greens Union (LVŽS), Lithuanian Green Party, National Unification, Freedom and Justice party, Nemunas Dawn political party, Nation and Justice Union (centrists, nationalists), Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats ( TS-LKD) and the Peace Coalition.
2024-08-29 21:38:39