by Justina Vaišvilaitė-Braziulienė, November 11, 2024, delfi.lt

Leading candidate for prime minister Social Democrat Gintautas Paluckas said he assured German partners Lithuania’s next Government will be free of anti-Semitism. The deputy leader of the Social Democratic Party (LSDP) said he answered all questions concerning the potential coalition partner Nemunas Dawn raised by German Social Democrats over the weekend.

“This morning we also spoke with the chair of the German Social Democrats and we discussed this situation. No doubt they are watching this, given we are strategic partners and have serious bilateral commitments. I explained the situation as it actually is, so they don’t get the impression from inaccurate quotes on social media and in the media,” Paluckas told reporters at the Lithuanian parliament Monday.

“There is not and there will not be any anti-Semitism in the Social Democrat-run Government and coalition,” he said when asked to elaborate on the factual situation he presented to the Germans.

Head of the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee Social Democrat Michael Roth on Saturday criticized the LSDP’s plan to build a coalition with the Nemunas Dawn party.

“Dear comrades in Lithuania, forming coalitions is never an easy thing! But Socialdemocrats are always and everywhere committed to freedom and human rights. An alliance with an anti-Semitic party is incompatible with our values. Think about it if you wanna stay in our Party of European Socialists family!” he said on X.

Paluckas said looking after one other is a normal practice in the European Social Democratic family.

The prime ministerial candidate also revealed his party had been approached by some of the embassies over Nemunas Dawn as a possible coalition partner.

“I do not recall the whole list, but I certainly had to talk to a lot of heads of diplomatic missions. The US, Germany, Israel, Canada, Armenia, Latvia, Estonia. The issue was discussed for quite a long time,” Paluckas said.

Full story here.