“I think that the key figure will be (R. Žemaitaitis’ party – ELTA). It is because of personal characteristics – because of predatory, because of aggressiveness. And if earlier we saw social democrats who were able to control such populist, aggressive, maybe even sometimes anti-state movements, I would think that now we have a completely opposite situation”, said G. Landsbergis in an interview with “Delfi”.
Therefore, the politician raises the question whether the leader of the Social Democrats would be the main figure in this kind of coalition.
“If, however, the social democrats decided to take such a particularly risky and most likely anti-state action, as to include Mr. Žemaitaitis in the management of the state, I don’t know who would be the first to take the first step – whether Mrs. Blinkevičiūtė from Brussels or Mr. Žemaitaitis directly here in the Seimas,” he mused. .
“Can we, as pro-European forces, create a barrier so that such a force does not have a management instrument in the state?”, the minister asked.
Concerned about the contours of the new coalition, G. Landsbergis emphasized that it is necessary to remember not only the anti-Semitic statements of R. Žemaitaitis, but also the politician’s position towards Ukraine.
“When we talk about Mr. Žemaitaitis, it is not only anti-Semitism, which is confirmed by the Constitutional Court as a systematic action against one group of society, with the aim of humiliating it, promoting hatred – but it is also an anti-Ukrainian element. A person who fought against support for Ukraine, who questioned our methods of support”, emphasized the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
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 chairperson 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.
Such a statement of the social democrat was publicly criticized, emphasizing that the leader of the “Nemunas aushra” party, R. Žemaitaitis, was found by the Constitutional Court to have broken the oath of a member of the Seimas and grossly violated the Constitution due to anti-Semitic statements. After such a verdict of the CT, the politician himself refused the mandate of a member of the Seimas.
Responding to V. Blinkevičiūtė’s speech, Speaker of the Seimas and head of Liberal Movement Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen stated that she would not see her political strength in a coalition with “Nemunas Aušra”, while conservative leader G. Landsbergis called on parties on the left and right of the center to negotiate after the autumn elections prevent radical forces from coming to power.
2024-08-22 10:22:28