2024-07-12 16:08:22
G. Nausėda addressed the people who gathered in Simon Daukant Square in the capital and watched the inauguration ceremony on television screens a little after 3 p.m. – right after St. Mass in the Vilnius Archcathedral Basilica and formations of the flag squads of the Lithuanian Armed Forces in the Cathedral Square.
True, there was not the largest crowd waiting for him here – a significant number of chairs on the square were empty.
“My dear Lithuania, five years have passed and I am turning to you again,” G. Nausėda began his speech.
As the head of the country stated, after the second time the nation has shown its trust, he is stepping forward to meet the fate promised to all of Lithuania.
“Five years ago, I did not come to this palace to be comfortable. And not to hide behind the lines drawn for me every day.
I came because I believed that the President of the Republic of Lithuania must actively participate in politics, as much as the Constitution of the country allows.
I came because wherever I went, I felt the warm support of people who felt injustice. More and more oppressed by daily exclusion. It would make us doubt our strength, and at the same time the strength of the entire state,” said G. Nausėda.
The president testified that for all these five years he fought against the intolerance of those who thought differently in public life, but even when the arrows of criticism were flying, he still tried to talk to everyone.
“I tried to listen to everyone. I worked hard to make Lithuania even stronger, fairer, more advanced and greener. I was pushed forward by the belief that the greatest, unique and irreplaceable asset of the state is a person.
All people have their own traits and tendencies. Different people, because only the unity of differences makes it possible to make the best use of everyone’s abilities.
The successful journey of the state is determined by the daily choices of all of us, the people of Lithuania. Proudly carrying her idea through the storms of geopolitics, we continue the work of our ancestors who, walking in the forefront, believed and fought for our present.
That is why, when visiting the regions of our country, I never miss an opportunity to lay flowers for those who died for the freedom of Lithuania. Besides, I can’t imagine a single visit to the municipalities. The example of the fighters inspires today.
We are assembling the Lithuania of the future from small pieces like a wonderful multi-colored mosaic. By imagining a new, better reality, we begin to create it. Here and now, without waiting for someone else to do it.
Therefore, strong and self-confident personalities must always feel free to act in this country. Active members of communities, cultural figures, creators of state security”, the head of the country taught.
According to G. Nausėda, the real power of Lithuania is born in the joint action of free people, and joint achievements ignite a feeling of pride in each other.
“The song of the joint choir eventually grows into an eternal, intergenerational hymn to the Motherland. This performance of ours is all the brighter and more effective the less we deceive ourselves and how effectively we are able to solve the challenges that arise.
“Only by satisfying the natural sense of justice inherent in every human being can we successfully build a prosperous state,” said the president.
However, according to G. Nausėdas, we have to admit that for several decades we have closed our eyes to the rapid growth of inequality and social exclusion in Lithuania.
“We have now reached a stage where the long-term stability and even security of the state directly depends on our ability to fairly share the wealth created.
The last five years have shown me that Lithuania can be right. Lithuania can be in solidarity. Lithuania – all of us – can properly take care of vulnerable persons: people with disabilities, seniors, parents raising children.
No Lithuanian person can be – and will not be – left out!”, promised the head of the country.
According to G. Nausėda, it is equally important to ensure continuous economic growth in the near future. According to the President, based on modern technology, it will be the main source of our prosperity.
“This means that we will have to use even more creative and trained minds. People who are not afraid to boldly step forward with one foot and create innovations. Energetic personalities who are used to overcoming all the obstacles that arise.
Only a high-quality, equally accessible and creative education system can provide us with such a charge of energy. For a small country like Lithuania, every talent is worth its weight in gold. We must notice, evaluate and carefully direct each one in the direction of higher achievements”, explained the president.
In G. Nausėda’s opinion, the environment we live in will also require a lot of attention – it must be good for future generations as well.
“Our duty today is to ensure that the Lithuania of the future remains green as well. Therefore, let’s instill in our children and grandchildren love and respect for our native country and its nature, and let our example help create a better – cleaner, cozier and healthier – world.
Dear Ones, as I did five years ago, I feel a great strength coming from you today. I feel the power of one, indivisible Lithuania, which steps into the world firmly knowing what it wants and how it can achieve it.
Let Lithuania be dear to all of us forever, because it is beautiful. Precious because it is hardened by hardship and suffering. Expensive, because the spirit of respect for the heroes sleeping in the graves has grown. Dear, because of all of us – the people of Lithuania – now and forever.
Let us both praise and defend her together. Let’s start creating our own destiny together!”, said the head of the country.
2024-07-12 16:08:22