Chairwoman of the Lithuanian Jewish Community, Faina Kukliansky, has expressed concern over the willingness of leading political figures, considered favourites in the upcoming Seimas elections, to form a new ruling coalition with “Nemunas Aušra,” a party led by Remigijus Žemaitaitis.
She believes that Lithuanian politicians should not overlook the antisemitic remarks made by the leader of this party, which have offended many Lithuanian citizens.
“Forming a coalition with a party that openly makes antisemitic statements is unacceptable, both for me personally and for our community,” said Kukliansky.
She added, “Government and elections are not the most important things in life. What truly matters is conscience, and adhering to at least the Ten Commandments.”
Kukliansky’s concerns extend beyond just the political forces considering a coalition with “Nemunas Aušra.”
She is also troubled by comments from the Presidency regarding the party’s rising popularity. “Antisemitism is an attack on Lithuanian citizens, and the President must protect all citizens,” she said, referencing a recent interview in which the President of Lithuania expressed hope that “Nemunas Aušra” and its leader would publicly address concerns about their antisemitic statements and their stance on Russia.
She emphasised that the Jewish community cannot remain indifferent to Žemaitaitis’s statements, especially since he has never apologised for them.
“The President and the state should be deeply concerned about the protection of Jewish people. We have nowhere else to go, nor should we have to leave. We live in a democracy. Why should anyone tell us to ‘take a stick and kill that Jew’? People may have different thoughts, but there is a way to express them—there is a lexicon, there is a culture,” Kukliansky said, noting that three communities have filed lawsuits against Žemaitaitis for inciting hatred.
“The Constitutional Court has ruled that his actions are incompatible with the duties of a parliamentarian and violate the oath he took,” she emphasised.
In conclusion, Kukliansky expressed hope that the growing popularity of Žemaitaitis is not solely due to his antisemitic statements, which have caused outrage both in Lithuania and internationally. “As I speak to you, I am in tears because I never expected that, after 80 years and all the memorials and speeches in Paneriai, we would have such voters. And these voters support Žemaitaitis. I did not make Žemaitaitis an enemy of the Jews. I never spoke ill of him. The Jewish community has never spoken ill of him. Shouldn’t the state be concerned about this?” she concluded.
