LRT English Newsletter – December 6, 2024.
Lithuania’s incoming government has revealed its draft programme for the next four years. Much of it is focused on upping expenditure on welfare, which was, of course, immediately criticised by the outgoing conservatives. We had a rough outline of what to expect here, but we will bring you more once the final programme is approved on December 12. The cabinet is also two ministers short – the president approved just 12 out of 14 candidates.
Despite initial question marks surrounding the China policy, the PM-to-be Gintautas Palcukas said Lithuania would continue to develop ties with Taiwan. However, normalising relations with Beijing is also on the agenda and the ball is in China’s court, said the incoming foreign minister, Kęstutis Budrys. Still, Lithuania had to expel three Chinese diplomats from its side of the court over undisclosed breaches.
PLANE CRASH UPDATE
The injured Spanish crew member has been moved to his home country for further treatment. If you live in Vilnius (under a rock) and somehow missed what had happened, here’s a primer, as well as a recap of previous Lithuania-related plane crashes.
GEORGIA SANCTIONS
After first stalling in the parliament, a resolution condemning violence against protesters passed with 109 votes to one in the Lithuanian Seimas.
Earlier, several hundred people, including politicians, rallied outside the Georgian embassy in Vilnius, while the three Baltic countries sanctioned those responsible for violence against protesters. Tbilisi responded by summoning diplomats for an explanation. Vilnius also said it would offer refuge to Georgia’s dissenting president if she had to flee the country.
Meanwhile, the country’s ambassador to Lithuania, Salome Shapakidze, has resigned in protest against Tbilisi abandoning (or freezing) its EU path, which has propelled the protest movement.
ŽEMAITAITIS SAGA
Remigijus Žemaitais, head of the Nemunas Dawn party in the ruling coalition, has lost his immunity over a criminal investigation into incitement of hatred against Jewish people.
This was due to happen after the incoming government had agreed they would voluntarily forfeit their legal immunity if the prosecutor opened a criminal investigation against any (read: Žemaitaitis) politician.
The politician maintains he had criticised Israel and did not make anti-Semitic statements – read the backstory here.
DEPORTATIONS
A petition and public outcry did not prevent the Migration Department from doubling down on its order for two Vietnamese cousins, who owned a restaurant in the northern city of Šiauliai, from being ordered out of the country. Their permit to stay in Lithuania expired yesterday after they were found to have breached the rules requiring that they employ EU citizens in their business.
In related news, Belarusian activists living in Vilnius held a conference last Friday, asking for Lithuania to protect war veterans. This followed the earlier story of a Belarusian who fought for Ukraine but was later expelled from Lithuania and subsequently ended up in KGB custody. Related or not, the number of Belarusian residents in Lithuania has been decreasing. We are also hearing anecdotal evidence of people leaving for Poland after no longer feeling safe – or welcomed – in Vilnius.
EDITOR’S PICKS:
– Here’s what happened in Chornobyl after it was occupied.
– Driving tests in Lithuania will now only take place in languages used by the European Union (ie, not Russian). The only exception is the Ukrainian language.
– South America was once the dream destination of Lithuanian emigres.
– Read more about Oscar Vladislas de Lubicz-Milosz, the enigmatic French-Lithuanian poet and diplomat better known as Oscar Milosz.
– Lithuanian veggies are in fashion.
– Lithuania will buy out the floating LNG terminal, Independence.
– Rheinmetall in Lithuania is a sign of the changing times.
– More flights between Vilnius and Zurich are coming.
– NGOs want their pre-World War Two properties back.
– Have you seen the Vilnius Christmas tree?
– And you should ask ChatGBT about depression.
Written by Benas Gerdžiūnas
Edited by Justinas Šuliokas
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