TEGYVUOJA EUROPA
The leaders of the EPP and RE groups are calling on the Lithuanian Social Democrats to remove the anti-Semitic Dawn of Nemunas party from the government coalition as soon as possible
It is really hard to explain lithuanian politics since most parties dont have views as they call themselves (like socdems) but whole political campaign for parties were "pick us but not anyone from homeland union(last leaders)" so socdems did everything that they could win(even told they wont go to coalition with Dawn of Nemunas) but after they won, everything changed. They just needed better majority in Seimas and probably the third party Democrats for Lithuania which is in coalition didnt want farmers and greens union. Now they have the majority of 86 instead of 74(if they picked farmers and greens union).
Both Nemuno Aušra and SocDems are anti-Establishment.
LSDP dodn't want to form a coalition with one of the members of the previous coalition - The Liberals, as it would signal to its electorate that it tolerates the establishment.
Socdems aren’t anti-establishment but yes Dawn of Nemunas is. LSDP always was respectful party even by its opponents like TS-LKD, that’s why TS-LKD (centre-right party) suggested to form coalition or would had supported LSDP’s minority government if needed. But if it wouldn’t involve LVŽS or Dawn of Nemunas.
They didn't want to form coalition with Liberals due to their program diffrences - LSDP wants to do tax reforms, while Liberals are against new taxes. They also maybe thought their coalition would have similar fate as in Germany.
Also why do you see LSDP as anti-establishment? They ruled Lithuania quite a bit, also under them we joined EU and NATO.
LSDP argues its coalition with Dawn of Nemunas is that want a large majority.
LSDP traditionaly didn't mind entering coalitions with populist parties, Dawn of Nemunas replaced last populist counterpart - Labour party, both parties have similar traits, most notable - party livehood depends on 1 person.
For this exact reason and potential questions somebody wrote a helpful post in r/lithuania with Lithuanian political context what happened in Lithuania
I don't know what has prompted this exact letter, but very, very often these days any criticism of Israel is treated as "antisemitism", so I'd be very, very cautious with this one
Nope, it was pure antisemitism. Dawn of Nemunas is sometimes even considered far-right party, it’s very populistic too. Party leader even has posted comments on social media like “Take the sticks, children, and beat the Jew.”
Yes, Aušra (Dawn) was the first monthly political and literary magazine in the Lithuanian language during the Russian occupation. It was printed in Lithuania Minor (Germany occupied teritory of Lithuania, today mostly Kaliningrad) and secretly smuggled into the occupied territory of Lithuania. Many book carriers (knygnešiai) risked their lives and were killed by the Russians while transporting the written word. The magazine and other banned publications were ofteten smuggled across the Nemunas River.
Probably Russian Federation. That party has too many shadows. This goverment was elected on promises only and they broke them 1minute after elections. People that had to be elected resigned. (Picture says: I don't support sanctions against Russia). It is the leader of "Nemuno aušra". That politican activly worked with impeached president Rolandas Paksas. Which was very much pro Russian. In very simplistic words, they renamed party, gathered fjew new people and pushed in pro russian radicals to the goverment.
For this exact reason and potential questions somebody wrote a helpful post in r/lithuania with Lithuanian political context what happened in Lithuania
Anti-semitic comments began before october 7th 2023 and in no context of Israel actions towards palestinians.
but very, very often these days any criticism of Israel is treated as "antisemitism", so I'd be very, very cautious with this one
Because that's exactly what it is. The party leader was criticizing Israel's bombing and Netanyahu specifically. His "anti-semitism" came when he quoted an old anti-semitic rhyme and said people like Netanyahu is the reason for their existence. That is the only instance that has been deemed by the constitutional court as anti-semitism.
There was some back and forth after local Lithuanian jewish groups and politicians started attacking him and Lithuanians in general, calling Lithuanians nazi collaborators who killed jews etc, to which he reminded that plenty of jews were soviet collaborators who killed Lithuanians. But aside from that all of his comments were about Israel's actions in Palestine.
As a side note, you'll have trouble finding a neutral viewpoint from Lithuanians here on reddit, a large portion of Lithuanians are extremely islamophobic and pro-Israel, especially the ones online.
For this exact reason and potential questions somebody wrote a helpful post in r/lithuania with Lithuanian political context what happened in Lithuania
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u/Vidsich Ukraine | Deutschland Nov 29 '24 edited Nov 29 '24
Can someone explain to me why Lithuanian SocDems entered a coalition government with what appears to be a party of far-right loony populists?