LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, September 3, 2024
- Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus for 3rd straight day
- Lithuanian parliament convenes to consider Kubilius for European commissioner
- Lithuanian military academy to open drone competence center
- EU commission's defense portfolio would be 'very good' for Lithuania – presidential aide
- Lithuanian president on rising immigration: 'time to rein in the horses' (corrects)
- Zemaitaitis' Jew statements must be taken into account during coalition formation -Nauseda
- Zemaitaitis on talks about blocking him from power: let's wait for election results
- Israeli president expected in Lithuania when Middle East tensions ease – presidential aide
- I won’t shy away from any responsibilities – Lithuania's EC candidate Kubilius
- Kubilius can realistically get EC defense portfolio – Landsbergis
- Turkey's bid to join BRICS undermines trust in Ankara – Lithuanian foreign minister
- Lithuania slams ICC member Mongolia over Putin's visit amid issued arrest warrant
- AfD's success in Germay is due to pandemic, war, inflation – Lithuanian formin
- Lithuania legalizes home-distilled vodka production at rural tourism homesteads
- Lithuania needs state-managed 2nd pillar pension fund – c.banker
- Lithuania's SSD warns about fake calls from Migration Department
- Lithuanian MPs observe minute of silence to honor victims of Russian attack on Ukraine
- Lithuanian parliament approves Kubilius for European commissioner
- Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, September 4, 2024
Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, September 3, 2024
VILNIUS, Sep 03, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Tuesday, September 3.
PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to travel to Poland to meet with his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda, to attend Lithuanian-Polish defense industry, academic forums.
DEFENSE MINISTER Laurynas Kasciunas to attend the opening a drone center of excellence at 12.30 p.m.
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Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus for 3rd straight day
VILNIUS, Sep 03, BNS – Lithuanian border guards recorded no attempts to cross into the country from Belarus illegally for the third day in a row on Monday, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Tuesday morning.
Latvia reported 41 attempts at illegal border crossings on Monday, and 71 irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Sunday, according to the latest available information.
A total of 466 irregular migrants have been barred from entering Lithuania from Belarus at non-designated places so far this year, a much lower number than in previous years.
The influx of irregular migrants to the EU's eastern member states from Belarus began in 2021 and is blamed by the West on the Minsk regime.
Almost 4,200 irregular migrants crossed into Lithuania from Belarus illegally in 2021. However, the vast majority of them fled Lithuania once they were allowed to move freely.
Lithuanian border guards have prevented a total of more than 22,300 people from crossing in from Belarus since August 3, 2021, when they were given the right to turn away irregular migrants. The number includes repeated attempts by the same people to cross the border.
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Lithuanian parliament convenes to consider Kubilius for European commissioner
VILNIUS, Sep 03, BNS – The Lithuanian parliament is holding an extraordinary session on Tuesday to consider MEP Andrius Kubilius' nomination for the country's European commissioner.
The former prime minister from the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats is being proposed for the post after President Gitanas Nauseda rejected the candidacy of Gabrielius Landsbergis, the conservative party's leader.
Kubilius was re-elected to the European Parliament for a second term this year.
The politician, who has served as an MEP since 2019, is a strong advocate for closer ties between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries, increased support for Ukraine, and a tougher stance toward the Kremlin.
Lithuania's candidate for the European Commission is formally proposed by the government, but the nomination requires approval from both the president and the Seimas.
The candidate also requires the endorsement of the European Commission president and the European Parliament.
If Kubilius is appointed to the Commission, his MEP seat will go to Liudas Mazylis, the next candidate on the HU-LCD list.
During the extraordinary session, the parliament is also expected to decide whether to allow farmers to produce and sell alcoholic beverages on their rural tourism homesteads.
The agenda also includes the presentation of several other proposals related to the public broadcaster LRT, the removal of taxes on military aid, and the expansion of the Siauliai Free Economic Zone.
The parliament's regular fall session is scheduled to open on September 10.
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Lithuanian military academy to open drone competence center
VILNIUS, Sep 03, BNS – The General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania is opening an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Competence Center in Vilnius on Tuesday.
A drone training classroom will also be unveiled during the event, according to the Defense Ministry.
It said earlier that the center will be open to civilians who want to learn how to operate unmanned aircraft.
The center aims to offer civilian drone operation courses to around one thousand people each year.
Lithuania has started to focus more on drones amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, where both sides are using UAVs for various tasks ranging from reconnaissance to destroying enemy targets.
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EU commission's defense portfolio would be 'very good' for Lithuania – presidential aide
VILNIUS, Sep 03, BNS –The European Commission's defense portfolio would be "very good" for Lithuania, President Gitanas Nauseda's chief foreign policy advisor said on Tuesday.
"It's probably too early to say what portfolio we'll get, but the defense portfolio would be very good," Asta Skaisgiryte told the Ziniu Radijas radio station.
"Both EU enlargement and defense are areas that are very close to us," she said. "Enlargement (is very important) because we are passionate supporters of enlargement, particularly when it comes to Ukraine and Moldova."
MEP Andrius Kubilius, Lithuania's likely nominee for the Commission, also said after last Friday's meeting with Nauseda that the country could receive portfolios related to security, defense, or EU enlargement.
"The defense portfolio will be completely new in this European Commission and newly created because life dictates the need for a European commissioner who will primarily focus on and promote the development of the European defense industry," Skaisgiryte said.
The Lithuanian parliament is holding an extraordinary session on Tuesday to vote on Kubilius' candidacy for the Commission. Nauseda has already endorsed his nomination.
The former prime minister from the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats is being proposed for the post after President Gitanas Nauseda rejected the candidacy of Gabrielius Landsbergis, the conservative party's leader.
Kubilius, who has served as an MEP since 2019, was re-elected to the European Parliament for a second term this year.
Lithuania's candidate for the European Commission is formally proposed by the government, but the nomination requires approval from both the president and the Seimas.
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Lithuanian president on rising immigration: 'time to rein in the horses' (corrects)
(corrects the headline and the lead)
VILNIUS, Sep 03, BNS – President Gitanas Nauseda believes that the number of immigrants in Lithuania has reached a point where it is "time to rein in the horses".
"From my viewpoint, uncontrolled immigration is first and foremost a national security issue. So, (...) failure to control immigration given the demographic hole we are in now could lead to outcomes none of us want," Nauseda told the public broadcaster LRT's program Forumas on Monday evening.
"While I understand in principle that employers need labor, increased productivity and business expansion, I would support a strict quota system," he added.
Nauseda noted that after Belarus' fraudulent presidential election in 2020 and the ensuing persecution of opponents, the number of immigrants in Lithuania has surged and "has reached a critically high level relative to our total population".
"Therefore, it is really time for us to rein in the horses, because (...) immigration is a pressing issue, and, as you can see from Germany's example, it can even affect election results," he said.
Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which advocates a deportation program for irregular immigrants, won its first regional elections on Sunday.
Nauseda expects a new law setting a quota for third-country nationals coming to Lithuania to help tighten the country's immigration policy. The parliament passed the law in June.
"The adopted decisions – admittedly, they will come into force in 2026 and perhaps it makes sense to consider bringing the date forward – set a 1.4 percent quota, which would effectively mean about 40,000 working immigrants, even though the current number of immigrants who have jobs is around 120,000," the president said.
"I would consider this a certain tightening of immigration policy that is in line with the mentioned national security narrative I previously mentioned, but we have to apply it consistently and make no exceptions," he added.
The amendments to the law regulating the status of foreign nationals in Lithuania also stipulate that only individuals with a temporary residence permit can work legally in the country.
The new legislation also imposes an obligation on employers to provide information on foreign employees' qualifications and work experience.
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Zemaitaitis' Jew statements must be taken into account during coalition formation -Nauseda
VILNIUS, Sep 03, BNS – The statements of Remigijus Zemaitaitis, the controversial leader of the Dawn of the Nemunas (Nemuno Ausra) party, about Jews will have to be taken into account when forming a ruling coalition as one of Lithuania's key partners, Germany, is sensitive about this issue, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says.
"(...) the person's statements about Jewish people are causing huge problems and it's causing huge problems for his acceptance into the coalition," the president told the public broadcaster LRT's Forum, when asked about the Dawn of the Nemunas' chances of joining the new ruling coalition after the upcoming general elections.
"And not only because Lithuania has always been known as a country where different nations coexist in a friendly and tolerant manner, but these signals, these statements, these seemingly innocent jokes and rhymes have gone very far. They have gone to those partners whose support is extremely important to us, I mean Germany. They have reached those partners whose support is very important for us, I mean Germany. This is a terrible stigma in Germany," Nauseda said.
If Zemaitaitis gets into power, Lithuania's partners will want "to get very clear answers as to what this party and the statements of its chairman are about".
"Those jokes were not so innocent and they will have to be taken into account when the ruling coalition will be formed," he stressed.
Vilija Blinkeviciute, leader of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, earlier did not rule out forming a post-election coalition with the Dawn of the Nemunas.
On Monday, the president also said that Zemaitaitis' political team's stance on Russia and Belarus was still unclear.
"First of all, it is very important for me to know what this party's stance on our eastern neighbor. It is hard to get an impression yet. If we take a look at Zemaitaitis' team, it's really uninspiring, to say the least. Zemaitaitis himself, during the presidential election campaign, was quite restrained and moderate in his approach to both issues of supporting Ukraine and Russia. So it would be impossible to draw unambiguous conclusions at this point," Nauseda said.
The president believes the political forces that will form the ruling majority will have to take the responsibility for these things.
"I cannot answer for the parties that will form the ruling coalition. But if one asks for my opinion, the situation will certainly have to be taken into account. We may have a political stalemate, and this is possible," he said.
Nauseda urged Zemaitaitis to admit his mistake regarding his anti-Semitic remarks.
"I would like, first of all, for this party to use the time left before the election to refute all the things it said before. This can be done, it is possible to admit and say that I was wrong, and this could partially correct the situation, although, as I said, things have gone quite far," the president said.
Earlier this year, Lithuania's Constitutional Court ruled that Zemaitaitis broke his oath as an MP and violated the Constitution by making anti-Semitic statements. He avoided impeachment by resigning from the Seimas in April.
In his Facebook posts in June 2023, Zemaitaitis expressed anger over Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte's visit to Israel and accused Jews of deporting and killing Lithuanians. Commenting on the news of Israel's demolition of a Palestinian school, he likened Israel to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is waging war in Ukraine, and quoted an anti-Semitic folk counting-out rhyme.
Zemaitaitis denied that his statements were anti-Semitic, but the Constitutional Court ruled that they "contain, among other things, degrading descriptions of people belonging to an ethnically distinct group, and quote a counting-out rhyme (...) depicting violence against Jewish people, mocking them".
The court stated that by using such descriptions, quotes and statements that incite intolerance between ethnic minorities and deny the Holocaust, the politician demonstrated hatred toward an ethnically distinct group.
Zemaitaitis' criminal case on his anti-Semitic remarks has been referred to Vilnius Regional Court.
Founded by Zemaitaitis in November 2023, the Dawn of the Nemunas is running for parliament for the first time in October. The party has almost 3,000 members.
A Spinter Tyrimai poll showed in early August that the party came in second as 10.2 percent said they would vote for the party in the general election.
Also, Zemaitaitis ran for president in May and came in fourth with 9.21 percent of the vote
The Seimas election in Lithuania will take place on October 13.
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Zemaitaitis on talks about blocking him from power: let's wait for election results
VILNIUS, Sep 03, BNS – As some politicians in Lithuania, including President Gitanas Nauseda, are discussing Remigijus Zemaitaitis' Dawn of the Nemunas party's chances of working in the future government, the politician says one should wait for the Seimas election results.
"I am glad that the president cares about the life of Zemaitaitis, an ordinary boy who came to Vilnius from the countryside. I am very proud of that, but I find it very strange as we still have 40 days until October 13," Zemaitaitis told BNS on Tuesday.
"It is very interesting how they are putting the coalition together here and know who will be in the coalition. I wish that everybody just took a breather and waited to see what the nation and the people decide, and when the nation decides, we will talk then," Zemaitaitis said.
His comment came in response to Nauseda's statement on the LRT's Forum on Monday that the statements of Zemaitaitis, the controversial leader of the Dawn of the Nemunas (Nemuno Ausra) party, about Jews would have to be taken into account when forming a ruling coalition as one of Lithuania's key partners, Germany, is sensitive about this issue.
"I got a scare yesterday and started looking whether the Constitution of Lithuania had not been abolished, thinking when did they incorporated Lithuania into Germany. (...) I expect an official answer from the German Foreign Ministry as to whether they have given the German ambassador the power of putting pressure on the president of our country regarding Remigijus Zemaitaitis," the politician said, pointing out that the Lithuanian Constitution prohibits foreign interference in internal affairs.
On Monday, the president also recommended that Zemaitaitis admit his mistake for his anti-Semitic remarks and apologize.
"The president's advice is very good, but I have nothing to apologize for. I was talking about members of the KGB and the NKVD (the repressive structures in the Soviet Union - BNS), and if someone doesn't understand that, that's their problem and their business," Zemaitaitis told BNS.
Earlier this year, Lithuania's Constitutional Court ruled that Zemaitaitis broke his oath as an MP and violated the Constitution by making anti-Semitic statements. He avoided impeachment by resigning from the Seimas in April.
In his Facebook posts in June 2023, Zemaitaitis expressed anger over Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte's visit to Israel and accused Jews of deporting and killing Lithuanians. Commenting on the news of Israel's demolition of a Palestinian school, he likened Israel to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is waging war in Ukraine, and quoted an anti-Semitic folk counting-out rhyme.
Zemaitaitis' criminal case on his anti-Semitic remarks has been referred to Vilnius Regional Court.
Founded by Zemaitaitis in November 2023, the Dawn of the Nemunas is running for parliament for the first time in October. The party has almost 3,000 members.
A Spinter Tyrimai poll showed in early August that the party came in second as 10.2 percent said they would vote for the party in the general election.
Also, Zemaitaitis ran for president in May and came in fourth with 9.21 percent of the vote
The Seimas election in Lithuania will take place on October 13.
By Jūratė Skėrytė
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Israeli president expected in Lithuania when Middle East tensions ease – presidential aide
VILNIUS, Sep 03, BNS – Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit to Lithuania is still being planned but could take place after tensions in the Middle East subside, Asta Skaisgiryte, President Gitanas Nauseda's chief foreign policy advisor said on Tuesday.
"His visit is still on our agenda, but we want the situation in the Middle East to calm down a bit," Skaisgiryte told the Ziniu Radijas radio station.
"That would definitely provide a better backdrop for the Israeli president's visit, because it is still very tense there now," she added.
According to diplomatic sources, Herzog's visit to Lithuania was initially planned for June but was then postponed to the fall.
Skaisgiryte said that no specific date for the visit has yet been set.
According to information available to BNS, Herzog had earlier planned to visit all three Baltic states.
The last Israeli president to visit Lithuania was Shimon Peres in 2013.
In recent months, Israel has had difficulty rallying global support for its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, with Western allies pressing the Jewish state to reach a ceasefire deal.
The international community is concerned about Israel's use of disproportionate force in the conflict, civilian casualties, and the humanitarian situation in the world's most densely populated area.
Israel, however, insists that it aims to eradicate the terrorist organization and claims that Hamas uses civilians as human shields.
According to the Health Ministry of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, more than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the Palestinian territory.
Israel launched its offensive in the Gaza Strip last October after Hamas carried out a surprise attack in the southern part of the country, killing almost 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
By Saulius Jakučionis
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I won’t shy away from any responsibilities – Lithuania's EC candidate Kubilius
VILNIUS, Sep 03, BNS – Ex-Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius, who is being nominated as the country's candidate for a European commissioner, says he would not shy away from any responsibilities if he is appointed a member of the European Commission.
"Having served as prime minister of Lithuania twice and having earned the title of the crisis prime minister, I am not afraid of any jobs and responsibilities that may arise if I become an European commissioner," Kubilius told lawmakers on Tuesday.
In his words, both Lithuania and he personally have unique experience in security issues and EU enlargement, and he hopes that Lithuania will get the security, defense and enlargement portfolio.
Kubilius said he had discussed with President Gitanas Nauseda the possibility of seeking responsibility for these areas in the EC.
"In security and defense matters in the Eastern European area, we as a country have unique experience and in these matters and we can bring the most added value in strengthening the security of the EU as a whole and, at the same time, strengthening our own security," Kubilius said.
Europe is currently facing a new and deep geopolitical security crisis, he said, and it is time to boost its defense potential "by finally starting to build a real European defense union".
Quoting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Kubilius said that Eu enlargement is the bloc's core interest.
"Ursula von der Leyen has very importantly and rightly stressed that the next five years and what the European Union succeeds or fails to do in security matters will determine the future of the EU and its place in the world for the next five decades," Kubilius pointed out.
For her part, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, who presented Kubilius as the EC candidate to the Seimas on Tuesday, spoke about his experience and competence, saying that very few counties have such highly qualified and professional EC candidates.
"I think that Andrius Kubilius is a candidate who can objectively qualify for practically any portfolio, bearing in mind that his position of a former prime minister seems to suggest that there are very few areas of life in which a prime minister does not need experience, a certain level of competence, knowledge and the ability to deal with issues in that specific area," Simonyte said.
On Tuesday, the Seimas is holding an extraordinary session on Kubilius' nomination.
The former prime minister from the conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats is being proposed for the post after President Gitanas Nauseda rejected the candidacy of Gabrielius Landsbergis, the HU-LCD leader.
Kubilius was re-elected to the European Parliament for a second term this year.
The politician, who has served as an MEP since 2019, is a strong advocate for closer ties between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries, increased support for Ukraine, and a tougher stance toward the Kremlin.
Lithuania's candidate for the European Commission is formally proposed by the government, but the nomination requires approval from both the president and the Seimas.
If Kubilius is appointed to the Commission, his MEP seat will go to Liudas Mazylis, the next candidate on the HU-LCD list.
By Jūratė Skėrytė
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Kubilius can realistically get EC defense portfolio – Landsbergis
VILNIUS, Sep 03, BNS – Ex-Lithuanian Prime Minister and now MEP Andrius Kubilius can realistically get the EU defense commissioner's portfolio if he is nominated as Lithuania's EC candidate, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis says.
"I think it's realistic. As far as I know, Andrius Kubilius himself is actively negotiating for that position," Landsbergis told journalists at the Seimas on Tuesday, when asked about the Lithuanian candidate's chances of being put in charge of defense matters.
"I actually think this is the best situation when a person is able to stand up for themselves. When there is no one else to do it and, well, I am really optimistic," he added.
Landsbergis believes EC portfolios related to foreign policy and defense would be most in Lithuania's interests.
Asta Skaisgiryte, an advisor to President Gitanas Nauseda, also told the Ziniu Radijas news radios earlier in the day that Lithuania would be very happy with the EC defense portfolio.
Speaking later in the parliament, Kubilius also mentioned this area of responsibility.
"In security and defense matters in the Eastern European area, we as a country have unique experience and in these matters and we can bring the most added value in strengthening the security of the EU as a whole and, at the same time, strengthening our own security," Kubilius said.
On Tuesday, the Seimas is holding an extraordinary session on Kubilius' nomination.
The former prime minister from the conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats is being proposed for the post after President Gitanas Nauseda rejected Landsbergis as the country's candidate.
Kubilius was re-elected to the European Parliament for a second term this year.
The politician, who has served as an MEP since 2019, is a strong advocate for closer ties between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries, increased support for Ukraine, and a tougher stance toward the Kremlin.
Lithuania's candidate for the European Commission is formally proposed by the government, but the nomination requires approval from both the president and the Seimas.
By Jūratė Skėrytė, Paulius Perminas
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Turkey's bid to join BRICS undermines trust in Ankara – Lithuanian foreign minister
VILNIUS, Sep 03, BNS – Turkey's application to join the BRICS group of emerging-market nations undermines trust in Ankara, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said on Tuesday.
"(The decision) is difficult to understand. Clearly, trust in that country will certainly diminish," Landsbergis told reporters.
"Questions have already been raised about how we reconcile positions within the (NATO) Alliance between countries that support Ukraine and those that are pro-Russian. All this undermines trust," he added.
Landsbergis' comment came after Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing sources, that Turkey has formally asked to join BRICS "as it seeks to bolster its global influence and forge new ties beyond its traditional Western allies".
According to the sources, Turkey submitted its application to join BRICS "some months ago amid frustration over a lack of progress in its decades-old bid to join the European Union".
The news agency said that the group's further enlargement could be discussed during a summit in Russia in October.
Brazil, Russia, India and China are the founding members of BRICS, with South Africa joining later. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates joined the bloc earlier this year.
Asta Skaisgiryte, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda's chief foreign policy advisor, said on Tuesday that "BRICS is not really an organization, but rather a group of countries."
According to Skaisgiryte, what unites the BRICS countries is their desire to show that they are growing future geopolitical players.
"I believe that Turkey's bid to join BRICS is aimed at showing that it wants to be a regional geopolitical player and seeks a certain level of visibility," she told the Ziniu Radijas radio station.
The group primarily focuses on economic cooperation, expanding multilateral trade, and development.
Turkey, a NATO member, has sought to maintain good relations with both Moscow and Kyiv during Russia's more than two-year war against Ukraine, positioning itself as an important mediator and potential peacemaker.
By Paulius Perminas
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Lithuania slams ICC member Mongolia over Putin's visit amid issued arrest warrant
VILNIUS, Sep 03, BNS - As Russian President Vladimir Putin continues his visit to Mongolia, a member of the International Criminal Court, on Tuesday, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis says Lithuania has criticized Ulaanbaatar over the visit.
"This is yet another example of another crack in the system based on international law," the foreign minister told reporters on Tuesday.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin last year on war crimes charges, including the illegal deportation of hundreds of Ukrainian children since Moscow launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The warrant means that Putin should be arrested in any country recognizing ICC rulings, but Ulaanbaatar is ignoring it.
"This is totally unacceptable and Lithuania has expressed its displeasure to representatives of the Mongolian government. I think this is not the last appeal," the minister stressed. "The Nordic and Baltic countries are still coordinating a joint statement within the EU."
Ukraine has reacted very negatively to Putin's trip and accused Mongolia of bearing part of the responsibility for the Russian president's war crimes because Mongolian officers failed to detain him at the airport.
Kyiv has also called on the Mongolian authorities to execute the arrest warrant, and the ICC said last week that all its member countries must detain those wanted by the court.
The Mongolian government is yet to comment on the calls for Putin's arrest.
However, a spokesman for Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh denied reports on Sunday on social media that the ICC had sent a letter requesting the warrant to be executed upon Putin's arrival.
"Pressure from the public and the international community is the only remedy," Landsbergis stressed.
Russia does not recognize the ICC's jurisdiction.
By Paulius Perminas
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AfD's success in Germay is due to pandemic, war, inflation – Lithuanian formin
VILNIUS, Sep 03, BNS - The victory of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in regional elections was down to the pandemic, Russia's war in Ukraine, inflation and other factors, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis says.
"First of all, what we are observing now is a European trend and it is has to do with many elements," the minister told reporters on Tuesday. "It has to do with the pandemic, then there is the war, inflation, Russian disinformation, a lot of other things, and maybe sometimes a lack of strategic leadership," he noted.
In Sunday's election in Thuringia, the AfD won around 33 percent of the vote, and came in second in the neighboring Saxony.
Germany's most popular daily Bild described the results as a "political earthquake".
However, the AfD is unlikely to come to power as all other parties have ruled out forming a ruling majority with it, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called on the main parties to keep the AfD out of power.
"There is basically a sanitary cordon for the AfD, preventing a party with anti-Semitic statements, pro-Russian, pro-Chinese statements from becoming part of the government," the minister said.
However, according to Landsbergis, there is no similar unification trend in Lithuania.
"This is why it seems to me that, looking at Lithuanian politics, we are not yet European enough to be able to say that. So that we do not have political forces - anti-Semitic, pro-Russian, anti-Ukrainian forces that are openly against our strategic direction as a country – in our government," he stressed.
"There is a good chance that Zemaitaitis will score well. Clearly, he enjoys the support of radical forces, but the question is what other political forces will do about it," Landsbergis underlined.
Vilija Blinkeviciute, leader of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, has hinted that she would not rule out forming a ruling coalition with the Dawn of the Nemunas (Nemuno Ausra), the party led by controversial politician Remigijus Zemaitaitis.
The Constitutional Court earlier this year ruled that Zemaitaitis broke his oath as an MP and violated the Constitution by making anti-Semitic statements. He avoided impeachment by resigning from the Seimas in April.
By Paulius Perminas
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Lithuania legalizes home-distilled vodka production at rural tourism homesteads
VILNIUS, Sep 03, BNS – The Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday approved legislation allowing farmers providing rural tourism services to produce traditional home-distilled vodka.
The amendments to the Law on Alcohol Control were passed with 63 votes in favor, 15 against, and 22 abstentions.
The amended law defines a traditional alcoholic beverage made by a farmer as one with up to 65 percent alcohol by volume. It must be recognized as a national heritage product and produced by a farmer offering rural tourism services.
The legislation allows farmers to produce up to 100 liters of such a beverage per year, but it can only be used for personal or family needs or for on-site tasting. The drink cannot be sold or transported, and the equipment used must be marked with an identification number.
MP Vilius Semeska of the ruling conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats said that the amendments finally legalize the production of traditional alcoholic beverages in Lithuania, which are currently only available illegally at regional festivals.
"Producers have to hide; they can be penalized. While the regulation is quite strict, it is beneficial for the regions and rural areas," he told the parliament.
Agne Sirinskiene, a non-attached MP, criticized the amendments as contradicting the objectives of the Law on Alcohol Control.
"It is pathetic that the conservatives measure the level of civilization in a state by whether or not you can make strong alcohol at home," she said.
Meanwhile, MP Eugenijus Gentvilas of the Liberal Movement described the amendments as the "legalization of cultural and gastronomic heritage."
The parliamentary Committee on Economics said in early July that the European Commission did not object to the proposal to legalize the production of home-distilled vodka at rural tourism homesteads, as it did not provide any comments or a detailed opinion.
Editor: Roma Pakėnienė
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Lithuania needs state-managed 2nd pillar pension fund – c.banker
VILNIUS, Sep 03, BNS – Lithuania needs a state-managed second-pillar pension fund to compete against private pension funds, Gediminas Simkus, board chairman of the central Bank of Lithuania, says.
Moreover, he says, the state should not make its own contribution to such a fund as this should be done by employers.
For his part, Social Security and Labor Minister Vytautas Silinskas believes the existing pension system should be reformed to achieve this, adding that the issue is worth discussing.
Simkus says people could be automatically enrolled in the state fund, which would increase market competition.
"We need a state capital fund in one form or another. If we are talking about automatic enrollment, it should involve the state fund, not the private business. And private businesses should compete by offering better, cheaper, more efficient, more profitable services, if the state can do it. And if it can't, then they can't," Simkus said during a discussion on pension saving at the Seimas on Tuesday, adding that employers should also contribute to pension saving.
"The state should not spend its own funds to support the second pillar. In principle, we are ready to say that. It should be a matter of both employees and employers' participation in the second pillar. This still rapid wage growth leaves us with a relatively painless way to implement this option," the central banker said.
According to Simkus, employers' contribution could be mandatory and replace the state incentive within 3-5 years. Currently, the state transfers around 300 million euros annually to these pension funds, which makes Lithuanian stand out in comparison with other countries.
Silinskas, for his part, believes that employers' contribution to employees' pension could be considered, after Latvia introduced such a system. But, he added, this would require a reform of the pension system.
"This would be a major reform, and we need to discuss it with employers whether they would agree. (...) We cannot introduce such a tax for employers in a short period of time, but in the long term, it's certainly worth discussing," Silinskas said.
Simkus believes that Lithuania should urgently adjust its pension system due to the country's demographic problems as, he pointed out, almost three employees now pay for one pension, but the number is projected to drop to fewer than two working people over the next couple of decades.
The Social Security and Labor Ministry has proposed to decide during the parliament's fall session whether to give more opportunities to second pillar participants to temporarily stop accumulating for their pension.
According to the ministry, these funds currently 8.2 billion euros, of which 2.4 billion euros, or almost 30 percent, is earned.
Editor: Roma Pakėnienė
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Lithuania's SSD warns about fake calls from Migration Department
VILNIUS, Sep 03, BNS – Lithuania's State Security Department has warned people about fake calls allegedly made by Migration Department employees and urging people to go to the SSD to fill in questionnaires.
Callers not only urge people to go to the SSD but also ask questions about the activities of the Belarusian democratic opposition, the department said on Tuesday.
A number of Belarusian citizens in Lithuania have received such calls recently.
The SSD urges people to be vigilant, ignore suspicious calls and report such cases to the SSD by phone or email.
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Lithuanian MPs observe minute of silence to honor victims of Russian attack on Ukraine
VILNIUS, Sep 03, BNS – Lithuanian lawmakers observed a minute of silence at the end of the parliament's extraordinary session on Tuesday to honor the memory of the victims of the recent Russian attack on Ukraine.
"We have all read the reports about the brutal fact of Russian aggression when a ballistic missile killed 41 people in Poltava, and the death toll might even be higher. Ukraine has declared a three-day mourning period and I invite you to observe a minute of silence in memory of the victims," Jurgis Razma, the 1st deputy speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas, said at the end of the sitting.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that a military training facility was targeted during the Russian attack on the central Ukrainian city of Poltava and several dozen people were killed in the attack.
Two ballistic missiles hit the grounds of the training institution and a nearby hospital, he said.
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Lithuanian parliament approves Kubilius for European commissioner
VILNIUS, Sep 03, BNS – The Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday approved MEP Andrius Kubilius' nomination for the post of the country's European commissioner.
The motion was passed with 70 votes in favor, 24 against, and 15 abstaining.
"Andrius has not only managed to unite Brussels but also to politically unite the parliaments of all European countries in support of Ukraine," Zygimantas Pavilionis, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, told the parliament.
"Key decisions – Ukraine's candidate status and, finally, the negotiations – became a reality because this person was able to bring everyone together thanks to his strategic wisdom and patience," he said.
"Many accomplishments can be attributed to Andrius Kubilius: the creation of the Statute of the Seimas Statute, the establishment of the Committee on European Affairs, and the development of the strategy to contain Russia, among many other things," said Eugenijus Gentvilas, head of the Liberal Movement's political group in the parliament.
Ausrine Armonaite, leader of the Freedom Party, joked that, out of all the women proposed by her party for the European Commission, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte chose Kubilius.
"And yet, we think that this is an excellent candidate," she added.
Opposition MPs were skeptical of the candidacy before the vote and urged the parliament against supporting it.
"Even though he is a veteran, we all know who Andrius Kubilius is. We know he wants the defense commissioner's position, but his personal and professional qualities are very weak," Dainius Gaizauskas of the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union said.
"Perhaps he has aged or developed fears... But that's the reality. That's why he can't be a European commissioner. Now, when people in Lithuania hear Kubilius' name, they cross themselves, and soon, all of Europe might do the same," he said.
Non-attached MP Arturas Skardzius criticized decisions made during Kubilius' time as prime minister, including the purchase of the liquefied natural gas terminal and the sale of the Mažeikiu Nafta crude refinery.
In his speech before the parliament, Kubilius stressed that Europe is facing a new, deep geopolitical security crisis, making security and defense top priorities for the European Commission in the near future.
The politician said that Lithuania should aim for portfolios related to defense, security and EU enlargement.
The former prime minister from the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats was proposed for the post of Lithuania's European commissioner after President Gitanas Nauseda rejected the candidacy of Gabrielius Landsbergis, the conservative party's leader.
Kubilius, who has served as an MEP since 2019, is a strong advocate for closer ties between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries, increased support for Ukraine, and a tougher stance toward the Kremlin.
Lithuania's candidate for the European Commission is formally proposed by the government, but the nomination requires approval from both the president and the Seimas.
The candidate also requires the endorsement of the European Commission president and the European Parliament.
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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, September 4, 2024
VILNIUS, Sep 04, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Wednesday, September 4.
PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to travel to Poland.
SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen to meet with the Latvian and Ukrainian ambassador at 11 a.m.
PRIME MINISTER Ingrida Simonyte to meet with the executives of Poland's oil group Orlen at 10 a.m.
JUSTICE MINISTER Ewelina Dobrowolska to meet with Moldova Justice Minister Veronica Mihailov-Moraru ay 10 a.m.; to meet with UK Secretary of State for Justice Shabana Mahmood at 3 p.m.; to meet with Marija Pejcinovic Buric, secretary general of the Council of Europe, at 4 p.m.; to attend a gala dinner for the Council of Europe's conference of justice ministers at 7 p.m.
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