Riga, Nov. 11, (dpa/GNA) – Lithuania’s Social Democrats, winners in the October 27 elections, on Monday signed a three-party coalition deal in Vilnius that includes the new and controversial Dawn of Nemunas, whose leader has been accused of anti-Semitic statements.
The Union of Democrats, which came second in the elections, is the third party in the agreement, which distributed the most important cabinet posts and portfolios.
The coalition will have 86 seats in the 141-seat parliament.
The inclusion of Dawn of Nemunas – contrary to pre-election pledges by the Social Democrats – has led to outrage both in the country and abroad. The party combines leftist and right wing populist policies.
The main point of controversy concerns its leader and founder, Remigijus Žemaitaitis, 42, who has drawn attention with repeated anti-Semitic comments. He lost his seat in parliament in the spring as a result. Žemaitaitis has not been given a post in the new cabinet.
There has been criticism of Dawn of Nemunas from representatives of Israel, the United States and Germany, and a rally is planned in Vilnius for Thursday to protest against its inclusion in government.
Michael Roth, head of the German parliament’s foreign affairs committee, posted on X that said an alliance with an anti-Semitic party could not be reconciled “with our values.”
GNA