Around 8,000 protest in Vilnius against new ruling coalition

VILNIUS – About 8,000 people joined a protest in Vilnius on Tuesday against the new ruling coalition of the Social Democrats, Nemunas Dawn and the Farmers and Greens. 

The event began outside the Presidential Palace, where President Gitanas Nauseda was handed a petition urging him to take a firm stance on ministerial candidates and not to appoint members of Nemunas Dawn or the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania–Christian Families Alliance (EAPL-CFA).

Protesters later marched along Gediminas Avenue to the parliament, where the second part of the rally, called "Day of Shame," took place.

The protest came a day after the leaders of the political groups of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), Nemunas Dawn and the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LFGU) together with the Christian Families Alliance signed a coalition deal.

'THREAT TO STATEHOOD AND REPUTATION'

The rally began in Daukantas Square outside the Presidential Palace, where several thousand people gathered. Six petition organizers and activists met with President Gitanas Nauseda and handed him a petition signed by 66 NGOs and nearly 80,000 citizens expressing concern over the new ruling majority.

The document warns that the new coalition "poses a serious threat to Lithuania's statehood and reputation."

Andrius Tapinas, the owner of Laisves TV and one of the organizers, told reporters that the protest was aimed at urging President Gitanas Nauseda to show more resolve in approving ministers.

"We see that in these difficult times this coalition will find it very hard to function, because it includes a bunch of politicians who vote against sanctions on Belarus and Russia, who have their own interests, and who openly use anti-state rhetoric. Remigijus Zemaitaitis himself has publicly said that during an occupation he would be the one pointing out what to blow up and whose homes to raid," Tapinas said.

"And both the president and the Social Democrats are fine with this. It will be very hard for a young and clearly inexperienced prime minister to manage this super-colorful coalition with all its interests," he added.

According to Tapinas, society's task in such situations is to be "watchdogs and remind politicians once again that we are here today, we are warning and we are asking for a principled stance."

The petition calls on Nauseda not to appoint ministers from Nemunas Dawn or the EAPL-CFA to the new Cabinet.

The president told Ziniu Radijas earlier Tuesday that he would continue to block Nemunas Dawn candidates but would not oppose EAPL-CFA nominees, saying the latter party had proven a reliable partner and that not all of its members shared leader Waldemar Tomaszewski's views.

'COALITION OF SHAME'

After delivering the petition, protesters marched to the parliament. 

Along the way they chanted "Liars" and carried placards reading "We don't want to go back to socialism" and "When 3in1 is in crap, everyone stinks," among others.

"What is happening is truly shameful. (...) I don't even know if it's worth commenting further, because I simply wanted to express my civic will and show that it can be expressed peacefully and respectfully," said Dovile Baltutyte, a 33-year-old consultant.

The protester said she hoped "Day of Shame" would make the Social Democrats reconsider the coalition agreement.

"I don't want them to form a coalition with the kinds of figures they are working with now," she said.

Rokas Budrys, a 31-year-old IT specialist from Vilnius, said he was unhappy with the coalition.

"I'm dissatisfied with the people in it, with their past, and it just seems the country would be poorly governed," he told BNS.

Budrys admitted he had not read the coalition agreement but said he objected to the personalities involved.

"I hope the president will heed the petition, and perhaps the Seimas will refuse to approve the coalition," Budrys said.

Jurate, a 54-year-old working in telecommunications, called the new ruling bloc a "coalition of shame."

"Even more shameful than last time, I'd say, because the only slightly more adequate partners have been dropped. And such a bouquet – Nemunas Dawn, Tomaszewski's party, Ignas Vegele – is worrying. It's a concentration of anti-state forces," she told BNS.

Vitalijus Ziekas, a 46-year-old courier, echoed the sentiment.

"We have nothing against the Social Democrats. They won the election and should form the coalition. But not with this ragtag bunch – the Tomaszewskis, Nemunas Dawn and others who shouldn't even be elected to the parliament," he said.

Ziekas admitted the coalition would not be revoked.

"But this shows a civic stance. When such a mass of people gathers, their opinion is harder to ignore," he said.

'EXPOSE EVERY COMPROMISE, EVERY FRAUD'

Around 8,000 people rallied outside the parliament. The Seimas sitting was broadcast live on screens in Independence Square, with protesters booing as Remigijus Motuzas, leader of the Social Democrat political group in the parliament, spoke in support of Inga Ruginiene.

Speakers included lawyer Algimantas Sindeikis, photographer and activist Neringa Rekasiute, Lithuanian Youth Council president Umberto Masi, doctor Mindaugas Gedminas, youth activist Visvaldas Vaiciulis, writer Milda Matulaityte-Feldhausen and journalist Sarunas Cerniauskas.

"We aren't here to stage a coup, as some claim, or to question the election results. We're here to stand up for a cleaner, more transparent Lithuania," Cerniauskas said.

"The Social Democrats had plenty of options to form a coalition and show they were not what the Gintautas Paluckas case portrayed them to be. It seems those hopes were unfounded," he added.

Vilnius District Mayor Robert Duchnevic, a Social Democrat tipped as a potential candidate to become the next prime minister, also attended, saying he had personally seen alternative coalition options.

At the close of the event, Tapinas again addressed the crowd.

The civic activist said society must think about how "we will live with this new government" and outlined three tasks.

"First, we must stay vigilant. We must not allow our future to be traded behind closed doors. We must watch their decisions, every step they take. Second, we must be loud. We must expose every compromise, every fraud. If they try to silence us, we must speak even louder," he said.

"Third, we must remain civic-minded. Not just show up today, but prepare for next time, in even greater numbers, if we are deceived again." 

The rally ended with applause from the crowd and a joint singing of the national anthem.

The protest took place as the parliament approved Ruginiene, a Social Democrat, as prime minister.

Her predecessor, Social Democrat Gintautas Paluckas, resigned in July following the launch of two pre-trial investigations into his business dealings and amid mounting questions about his past. 

The new coalition, which holds 82 out of 141 seats in the parliament, consists of 52 Social Democrats, 19 Nemunas Dawn MPs and 11 members of the political group of the LFGU and the Christian Families Alliance.