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A new political scandal erupted in Lithuania when the country’s Jewish community appealed to the president to intervene and prevent an anti-Semitic party from joining the new ruling coalition. This happened after the Social Democrats, who won the parliamentary elections in October, unexpectedly invited the populist Zorya Neman party, which is headed by a leader with a history of anti-Semitic statements, TimeUkraineIsrael reports citing Bloomberg.
Political contradiction
Before the election, the Social Democrats promised not to allow Zorya Nemanu to come to power, but their unexpected decision to form a coalition caused a wide response. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda had previously expressed concern that the populists’ entry into government could damage the country’s international image. However, under the Lithuanian Constitution, the president does not have the power to stop the formation of a coalition.
Demands of the Jewish community
Lithuania’s Jewish community has said that the participation of anti-Semitic parties in the ruling coalition threatens Lithuania’s reputation in the international arena. “The presence of anti-Semites in the government undermines Lithuania’s credibility among our international partners, whose support is vital for the nation,” the Jewish community said in a statement.
International reaction
The international community is also concerned. Michael Roth, a German politician and chairman of the parliamentary committee on international affairs, warned his Lithuanian colleagues of the risk of losing their seats in the Party of European Socialists due to cooperation with a party that carries elements of populism and anti-Semitism. US Senator Ben Cardin, in turn, noted that any coalition involving Zorya Neman undermines the basic values on which relations between democratic countries are built.
Historical context
This issue becomes even more important against the backdrop of Lithuania’s history, where local collaborators helped the Nazis kill nearly 90 per cent of the Jewish population during the Holocaust. In light of this historical context, anti-Semitic sentiment in contemporary Lithuania is particularly worrying.
Political differences
Meanwhile, the Zvezda Neman situation is not the only political controversy for the Social Democrats. Only a few days earlier, the party’s chairperson, Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, unexpectedly resigned from the post of prime minister, even though her party had won the elections, which caused widespread media discussion.
This decision underscores the tense political situation in Lithuania, where anti-Semitism has once again become a subject of heated debate. The country’s Jewish community and international partners continue to advocate for Lithuania to remain true to its democratic values and international commitments.
