US Senator Criticizes NATO Member State for Supporting 'Anti-Semite'
A US senator has criticized Lithuania for compromising democratic values by allowing an anti-Semitic politician to join its coalition government, according to the chair of the Foreign Relations Committee. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Lithuania needs to collaborate with the United States to combat all forms of hate and uphold shared values, a prominent lawmaker has asserted.
US Senator Ben Cardin expressed concern over the Lithuanian ruling party's decision to form a coalition with a political group whose leader is currently on trial for making anti-Semitic remarks, stating that this move contradicts democratic ideals and poses a risk to the Jewish community.
The leader of the Dawn of Nemunas party, Remigijus Zemaitaitis, founded the party in 2023 after his expulsion from the Freedom and Justice party due to his anti-Semitic rhetoric.
Zemaitaitis, 42, has previously claimed that Jews and Russians oppressed Lithuanians during World War II. He has also called for the death penalty for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in response to Israel's military actions in Gaza.
In April, Lithuania's Constitutional Court ruled that Zemaitaitis' statements were anti-Semitic, concluding that he violated his parliamentary oath and the country’s principal law. As a result, he was removed from his position as a Member of Parliament (MP). An independent investigation by the Prosecutor General's Office is currently ongoing regarding his comments.
Senator Cardin, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released a statement on Friday highlighting that the Social Democratic Party's decision to enter into a coalition with the Dawn of Nemunas “undermines the core values that unite” the US and Lithuania.
He stressed that “At a time when antisemitism is on the rise around the world, giving a platform to anti-Semitic rhetoric and acts of hate is not just a betrayal of shared democratic ideals, but a physical threat to the safety of Jewish and minority communities.”
The senator called on Lithuania, which is a member of NATO and the EU, to continue collaborating with the US “to counter all forms of hate and ensure that our shared values remain unshaken.”
Zemaitaitis maintains that his comments were not anti-Semitic and denies any wrongdoing.
After the recent parliamentary elections in Lithuania, the Social Democrats Party, which secured 52 seats in the 141-seat legislature, invited the Dawn of Nemunas, holding 20 seats, and the Union of Democrats ‘For Lithuania’ to establish the ruling coalition. Together, these three parties will have a total of 86 seats.
On Saturday, Gintautas Paluckas, deputy leader of the Social Democrats and designated Prime Minister, defended the coalition decision, claiming it was “the only way” to achieve a “sustainable” government. He assured reporters that Zemaitaitis would not hold a government position, even though his party would lead three ministries.
“Some claim the whole Nemunas Dawn party is anti-Semitic – we don’t see it like that,” Paluckas stated, as reported by Reuters. “There is no place for antisemitism, neither in the Social Democrat party nor its government,” he added.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
US Senator Ben Cardin expressed concern over the Lithuanian ruling party's decision to form a coalition with a political group whose leader is currently on trial for making anti-Semitic remarks, stating that this move contradicts democratic ideals and poses a risk to the Jewish community.
The leader of the Dawn of Nemunas party, Remigijus Zemaitaitis, founded the party in 2023 after his expulsion from the Freedom and Justice party due to his anti-Semitic rhetoric.
Zemaitaitis, 42, has previously claimed that Jews and Russians oppressed Lithuanians during World War II. He has also called for the death penalty for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in response to Israel's military actions in Gaza.
In April, Lithuania's Constitutional Court ruled that Zemaitaitis' statements were anti-Semitic, concluding that he violated his parliamentary oath and the country’s principal law. As a result, he was removed from his position as a Member of Parliament (MP). An independent investigation by the Prosecutor General's Office is currently ongoing regarding his comments.
Senator Cardin, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released a statement on Friday highlighting that the Social Democratic Party's decision to enter into a coalition with the Dawn of Nemunas “undermines the core values that unite” the US and Lithuania.
He stressed that “At a time when antisemitism is on the rise around the world, giving a platform to anti-Semitic rhetoric and acts of hate is not just a betrayal of shared democratic ideals, but a physical threat to the safety of Jewish and minority communities.”
The senator called on Lithuania, which is a member of NATO and the EU, to continue collaborating with the US “to counter all forms of hate and ensure that our shared values remain unshaken.”
Zemaitaitis maintains that his comments were not anti-Semitic and denies any wrongdoing.
After the recent parliamentary elections in Lithuania, the Social Democrats Party, which secured 52 seats in the 141-seat legislature, invited the Dawn of Nemunas, holding 20 seats, and the Union of Democrats ‘For Lithuania’ to establish the ruling coalition. Together, these three parties will have a total of 86 seats.
On Saturday, Gintautas Paluckas, deputy leader of the Social Democrats and designated Prime Minister, defended the coalition decision, claiming it was “the only way” to achieve a “sustainable” government. He assured reporters that Zemaitaitis would not hold a government position, even though his party would lead three ministries.
“Some claim the whole Nemunas Dawn party is anti-Semitic – we don’t see it like that,” Paluckas stated, as reported by Reuters. “There is no place for antisemitism, neither in the Social Democrat party nor its government,” he added.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
