Controversial statements by politician and former MP Zbignev Jedinski, who suggested that Poland should align itself with Russia, have alienated parts of his party, the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania (LLRA).
Jedinski, a former MP who led the LLRA election list in the 2020 parliamentary vote and currently is an aide to MP Česlav Olševski, has posted on Facebook: “Poland must leave NATO and the EU as soon as possible and create an alliance with Russia.”
“This will be the strongest union of the Slavic countries, based on Christian and family values, which will benefit Polish citizens and not someone on the other side of the ocean,” he wrote.
Following the comments and the party’s tepid response, several members of the party, which relies on Lithuania’s Polish-speaking population as its electoral base and advocates ultra-conservative and religious policies, decided to quit. They include MP Beata Petkevič and several members of Vilnius District Council.
“Yes, I took this decision. I am sure I have already been deregistered from the party,” Petkevič confirmed to LRT on Wednesday.
The politician said she took the step last week, adding that politicians cannot mislead the electorate and try to sit “on two chairs”, especially during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“I think that Mr Jedinski really went too far with such comments,” she said. “This has a very negative impact on the image of the party and, of course, [...] on my personal image.”
Vilnius District Vice-mayor Robert Kamarovski and Renata Cytacka, a member of the district’s Council, have left the LLRA for the same reason.
The LLRA has announced that it is distancing itself from Jedinski’s “personal comment posted on Facebook” and reiterated its support for Lithuania’s “Euro-Atlantic course”.
Jedinski has suspended his membership in the party.
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