Over 30 non-governmental organisations have urged Lithuania’s Social Democrats to keep Nemunas Dawn, whose leader had lost his MP seat over anti-Semitic remarks, out of the ruling coalition.
“As we live in a time of war, the common European values and the support of our Western allies are the cornerstone of our security.” Laura Tatarelyte, executive director of the European Movement, said in the public letter. “Therefore, we cannot afford to undermine our mutual trust and the country's reputation in the eyes of the international community where any manifestation of anti-Semitism is strongly condemned.”
The open letter was initiated by the European Movement and the Lithuanian Center for Human Rights and signed by more than 30 non-governmental organisations and networks.
Lithuania’s Social Democratic Party (LSDP), winners of the October parliamentary election, initially said it would not form a coalition with the Nemunas Dawn party. However, it later backtracked from the promise.
In their letter, members of the civil society said the party would have a negative impact on human rights, democracy and national security.
Further reading
The Constitutional Court found that Remigijus Žemaitaitis, head of Nemunas Dawn, had broken his oath by making anti-Semitic remarks, which cost him his seat in the parliament. He resigned from the Seimas before he could be impeached.
There is also a pending criminal case in which Žemaitaitis is accused of public contempt of a group of people and incitement to hatred against the Jewish people. Therefore, once the new Seimas has been sworn in, law enforcement authorities will have to ask the parliament to lift Žemaitaitis’ legal immunity.
The politician has rejected the accusations of anti-Semitism, saying he had criticised Israel in his social media post and not Jewish people.
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
