German foundations voice concern over anti-Semitism in Lithuania to President Nauseda

VILNIUS – Three German foundations voiced their concern over anti-Semitism in Lithuania in a letter to President Gitanas Nauseda on Friday.

The letter was signed by the European Movement and the Baltic offices of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.

The German foundations said in a statement that their representatives addressed Nauseda to express their serious concern about the current situation and to voice backing for the president's stance against tolerating anti-Semitism in Lithuania.

"The letter's authors emphasize the need to take action to ensure that anti-Semitic forces or their appointees have no place not only in the government but also in the ruling coalition in the Seimas," the statement said.

The letter also warned that Lithuania's reliability and reputation as a partner of Germany are already suffering serious damage.

The foundations said that German politicians unanimously condemn parliamentary parties' coalition with the Dawn of the Nemunas party, noting that representatives of Germany's Liberal, Social Democratic and Christian Democratic parties have voiced disapproval of the Lithuanian Social Democrats' decision.

They also pointed out that on November 7, the German Bundestag passed a resolution describing the fight against anti-Semitism as a "common task for all democrats". 

"Anti-Semitic forces cannot be tolerated in Lithuania, either in the government or in the ruling majority of the Seimas," Laura Tatarelyte, executive director of the European Movement Lithuania, was quoted as saying in the statement. 

"We support the president's stance of intolerance toward anti-Semitic forces and are ready to work together to ensure that the partnership between Lithuania and Germany continues to grow stronger for the sake of a safe and united Europe," she said.

Earlier this week, the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), the winner of last month's parliamentary election, signed a ruling coalition agreement with the Dawn of the Nemunas party and the Democratic Union "For Lithuania". 

The decision to bring the Dawn of the Nemunas, whose leader Remigijus Zemaitaitis currently is on trial over alleged anti-Semitic remarks, into the coalition has sparked criticism both in Lithuania and internationally. Influential politicians from the United States, Germany, and Poland have condemned the move.

On Thursday evening, several thousand people protested in Vilnius, Kaunas and other cities and towns against the party's inclusion in the coalition.