The Lithuanian Jewish Community issued a statement condemning the apparent inclusion of a party led by an individual with a history of antisemitic rhetoric in the new government and called on the President to prevent its participation.
“The Lithuanian Jewish Community, representing 32 domestic and international organisations, urges the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, to uphold the principles enshrined in the Constitution by preventing antisemitic forces, represented by the political party “Nemuno Aušra,” from joining the new ruling coalition and government.
“Nemuno Aušra” was founded and is led by Remigijus Žemaitaitis, who, according to the Constitutional Court, breached his parliamentary oath and grossly violated the Constitution with antisemitic statements and incitement of ethnic hatred. Exploiting a legal loophole, he avoided accountability and continues to deny the ruling of Lithuania’s highest judicial authority, defaming the judges responsible and thereby undermining Lithuania’s credibility as a lawful state in the international arena.
The LJC highlights an ongoing criminal case in the court of first instance, where Žemaitaitis faces charges for antisemitic remarks and incitement of ethnic hatred. His statements deny and distort the Holocaust, aiming to rewrite Lithuania’s history while inciting animosity among Lithuanians towards their Jewish compatriots. These are not isolated remarks or “citations of folklore,” as some politicians have suggested, but a systematic approach that has provoked a wave of antisemitism in the country, leaving the small Lithuanian Jewish community feeling humiliated and unsafe.
Equally concerning is the high level of electoral support garnered by a party led by an open antisemite, which reflects the alarming level of latent antisemitism in Lithuania. This situation naturally raises the question: will followers of Mr. Žemaitaitis, tacitly supported by the President, spark pogroms reminiscent of those remembered by the oldest members of the community, now witnessing similar horrors unfold in other European countries?
The involvement of an antisemite in government affairs would also tarnish Lithuania’s reputation with its foreign allies, whose support is critically important during these challenging geopolitical times.
The LJC reminds the government that international organisations such as the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance), FRA (European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights), and OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) classify antisemitism as a crime. Lithuania has signed agreements with these organisations and is obligated to uphold them.
Thus, the Lithuanian Jewish (Litvak) Community urges the President to honour his inaugural oath and protect the rights of all Lithuanian citizens, including Jews, as enshrined in Articles 29 and 26 of the Lithuanian Constitution. Article 29 states, “All persons shall be equal before the law, the court, and other state institutions or officials. Human rights shall not be restricted, nor shall any privileges be granted on grounds of gender, race, nationality, language, origin, social status, religion, beliefs, or opinions,” while Article 26 declares, “Every person shall have the right to freely choose any religion or belief and, either alone or in community with others, publicly or privately, to profess his faith, practice his religion, or engage in its teaching.”
