People leave Lithuanian parlt on Independence Day during ex-MP's controversial speech

VILNIUS – Some politicians and guests walked out of the Lithuanian Seimas' hall last Friday, when the country marked its 32 independence restoration anniversary, as participants were angered by a speech of Zita Slicyte, delegated by the Club of the Signatories of the Act of March 11, in which she spoke about the "homosexualization of Lithuania".

"Spreading hatred on a day like this when we all need to unite, and Ukraine is asking for the European direction.... In Europe, such speeches are unthinkable – neither in the Bundestag, nor in Paris, nor in the European Parliament. This is incredible spread of hatred," MP Emanuel Zinger, one of the signatories of the Act of March 11, told BNS on Friday.

He and some members of the ruling conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats, the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania, the prime minister, the foreign and health ministers, and also Faina Kukliansky, chair of the Lithuanian Jewish Community, left the room during the speech.

"Today is a day of unity, and this woman claims to represent a small group of radicals who do not represent the views of Lithuania," Zingeris said.

Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said she left the room because she could not listen to speeches that were unacceptable for her.

"I just found what was said unacceptable and I walked out," she told reporters.

Speaking at the March 11 commemoration in the Seimas, Slicyte criticized the government for "fencing itself off from the nation" during the commemorations of January 13 and February 16, and said that "Lithuania is ruled by parties sitting in the dock".

"It is a pity that the Freedom Party, which promotes a loose lifestyle, is now dictating the fashion of politics," Slicyte said.

In her words, the media "has shed a lot of sweat" to convince the public that "the homosexual parade in Kaunas is a fiesta of beauty and goodness, while the rally of the Family Movement is a gathering of some dark, backward people".

"Such a cynical and brazen homosexualization of Lithuania has already had, and will undoubtedly have in the future, negative consequences on the unity and agreement within the society," Slicyte said.