That’s (Lithuanian) Showbiz!

May 19, 2008
In cooperation with BNS

VILNIUS – A large group of show-business stars established a party under the title of National Resurrection Party Sunday, with TV show producer and presenter with a background in law Arunas Valinskas, 41, chosen as the party's chairman.

If the Ministry of Justice approve founding documents of the party, the National Resurrection Party will become the 38th party to be entered into the country's legal persons register.

However, doubts over the party's legitimacy sounded shortly after due to the party's failure to adhere to the requirement set for political parties to have at least 1,000 founding members in Lithuania in order to be legally established, as the party's congress drew only 687 delegates who participated personally or through legal representatives.

Valinskas himself asserted to the press following the congress that according to the Civil Code, the attendance of no less than half of the founding persons - i.e. 500 plus one member - is necessary for legitimate decision making.

Nevertheless, Chairman of the Central Electoral Committee Zenonas Vaigauskas has stated many times that 1,000 members must participate or authorize someone to represent them in the founding congress.

The Ministry of Justice will have the final say in this dispute.

Renowned individuals in Lithuania's show-business, TV stars, singers and actors are among founders of the party. Not all of them plan to run for parliament, and it’s been alleged that some are only participating in order to attract votes.

Valinskas noted that the party will uphold centrist ideologies and hopes for successful participation in the Seimas elections Oct. 12th, and overcome the five percent barrier, to obtain seats in the parliament. The National Resurrection Party hopes to claim most votes in single-mandate districts and plans to propose its candidates in all of the 71 districts.

The party's program notes that it doesn't seek to change the geopolitical orientation, constitutional order or the basic principles of the political system of Lithuania.

"We will try to embody the attitude that commitments made to Euro-Atlantic, international partners, would be seen and implemented in Lithuania not as a burden, but an honorable duty (...). We will seek to have Lithuania become a leader among the Baltic States", the party's program reads.

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