2024-05-03 22:25:56
A little more than a week before the elections, on Thursday evening all eight candidates presented their positions on defense issues in a debate organized by LRT television. As usual, behind each candidate sat members of their teams, associates and supporters.
Dovilė Šakalienė, a social democrat and a member of the National Security and Defense Committee of the Seimas, came to the show together with President G. Nausėda‘s team, including his current advisors.
In February, the Social Democrats announced that they would not nominate their own candidate, although the majority of party members hoped that they would be represented in the elections by the chairwoman Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, who has excellent ratings. It is reported that the Social Democrats will support G. Nausėdas in the presidential elections.
True, such a decision outraged some long-time comrades. Social democrat Algirdas Sys then publicly stated that he would not vote for G. Nausėdas and doubted whether his actions corresponded to the ideology of social democrats.
However, the Social Democrats, who are at the top of their popularity, probably thinking about the upcoming Seimas elections, in which they hope to celebrate their victory, continue to build an elastic relationship with G. Nausėdas, and he also does not shy away from increasingly clear links with this party.
As a portal lrytas.lt stated Povilas Mačiulis, the head of G. Nausėda’s election staff, D. Šakalienė was invited to the debate on the initiative of his team to support the re-election of the president.
“The headquarters invited her. Because she is an excellent, active member of the NSGK, most of the issues (her opinion) coincide with the president’s, and she also actively supports the president, that’s why we decided to invite her,” – to the portal lrytas.lt commented P. Mačiulis.
He explained that there is no rule as to what kind of people come to the debates to support G. Nausėdas, their competences in the debated issues are simply taken into account.
“Those who could help with one issue or another even during the debates are invited, if a question arises to which the president does not know the answers. The president, having such a background, could consult,” said the head of the presidential election staff.
According to him, team members arriving together usually consult with G. Nausėdas about certain issues before the debates, but so far the debates have been on foreign policy and defense topics, where there is not much to discuss – this is the president’s field of activity, which he knows very well.
D. Šakalienė: I don’t understand why it surprises anyone
On her part, D. Šakalienė herself said that she did not understand why anyone should be surprised by her appearance on the debate show.
“I don’t really know why it should have surprised anyone, because LSDP officially expressed its support for President G. Nausėda. Since I am the deputy chairman of the Social Democratic Party, it is logical that I took part in the topic in which I am working,” – to the portal lrytas.lt commented the social democrat.
The politician pointed out that she does not belong to G. Nausėda’s electoral staff.
“I was invited because it was about defense and security issues. I was exactly the representative of the Social Democrats who participated in this discussion. I have no doubt that there will be more of my colleagues at other events as well,” she asserted.
D. Šakalienė also emphasized that she did not contribute to the preparation for the debate, but she often communicates with the president’s advisers on defense topics, so she already knew what his position would be on the discussed topics.
Did the views of the social democrats and the president coincide everywhere? D. Šakalienė answered that certain details can always be discussed, but the most important thing is that their direction is the same.
“I positively assess the president’s work on defense, security and foreign policy issues. These are the areas in which the head of our country has a strong position – he represents Lithuania well in matters of both Ukraine’s and our own security,” she said.
I. Kalpokas: may be part of future plans
Political scientist Ignas Kalpokas does not think that D. Šakalienė’s appearance in the debate with G. Nausėda is an insignificant detail. Such a step, according to him, says a lot.
“What is sitting behind the candidates should be seen as a kind of symbolism. Perhaps the criticism of G. Nausėda after the first debate was taken into account, when many commentators and others criticized that the team of the Presidency was brought, as if demonstrating their current position, and now the situation was a little different.
The presence of D. Šakalienė is probably a clear symbol of the fact that the Social Democrats really cooperate with G. Nausėda”, – to the portal lrytas.lt commented I.Kalpokas.
According to him, such friendship is especially useful for D. Šakaliene herself, who most likely projects herself as the future minister of national defense.
“Considering that the Social Democrats will likely be the axis of the next Government after the Seimas elections, considering D. Šakalienė’s profile, I can fully imagine her applying for the position of Minister of National Defense, and cooperation with the president is very relevant in this area.
I think there may be a part of further plans here,” the political scientist thought.
The first round of the presidential election will be held on May 12.
2024-05-03 22:25:56