“I have nothing to regret. Apparently, I have already achieved enough in life to have something to regret,” R. Žemaitaitis told reporters in the Seimas on Tuesday.
“Not anti-Semitic (statements – BNS). (…) If you think these are anti-Semitic statements, I sincerely regret reading your understanding of the text,” he added.
R. Žemaitaitis on his Facebook account in June was indignant about Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė’s visit to Israel, accused Jews of deporting and killing Lithuanians. The politician praised the news about Israel’s demolition of a Palestinian school, compared Israel to Russian President Vladimir Putin waging war in Ukraine, and quoted an anti-Semitic poem.
On Tuesday, parliamentarians will decide whether to form a temporary Seimas commission to investigate whether there is a basis for impeachment against R. Žemaitaič.
The politician said he was not afraid of impeachment.
“No, what are you afraid of?” There will be an opportunity to raise the ratings by ten percent,” said the MP.
The necessary signatures to initiate the impeachment of a member of the Seimas were collected by the authorities last week.
In their assessment, such systematically repeated statements are aimed at promoting violence, hostility, justifying hatred against the entire Jewish people and provoking social and national discord, which is incompatible with the Constitution and the country’s interests in the field of international relations.
The Attorney General’s Office has initiated pre-trial investigations into public contempt and incitement of hatred against any nation, race, ethnic, religious or other group of people.
Due to one of these statements – about the demolished Palestinian school – the party “Freedom and Justice” suspended the membership of R. Žemaitaitis in the party.
“Read the context. When a school built in Palestine with five million European Union funds was demolished, I said that if Israel continues to behave like this in Palestine, there is no secret that there is hatred for Jews”, said R. Žemaitaitis.
The opposition democrats announced on Tuesday that they strongly condemn the politician’s anti-Semitic rhetoric, but they do not agree to participate in attempts by the ruling party to organize an impeachment.
According to him, the impeachment would achieve the opposite result – R. Žemaitaitis would get an additional platform to spread discord.
“We are convinced that the Lithuanian law enforcement will properly assess the actions of Seimas member R. Žemaitaitis and after the decision of the law enforcement it will be clear whether there is a basis for impeachment,” Saulius Skvernelis, the leader of the “Vardan Lietuvos” Democratic Union, said in a statement.
According to the statute of the Seimas, after the impeachment initiative is announced in the Seimas, a special investigation commission must be formed to investigate the validity of the proposals to initiate impeachment proceedings and prepare a conclusion on the grounds for initiating impeachment proceedings. After examining all the circumstances, the commission will make a proposal as to whether or not there is a basis to initiate impeachment proceedings.
After the Seimas approves the conclusion that there are grounds for impeachment, it should apply to the Constitutional Court to determine whether the parliamentarian violated the Constitution and broke the oath or not.
If a violation is established, the resolution on revoking the mandate of a member of the Seimas is considered adopted if at least three fifths or at least 85 members of the Seimas voted for it.
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#Žemaitaitis #claims #statements #antiSemitic #regret
**Interview with Political Analyst Dr. Elina Jankauskienė on the Controversy Surrounding R. Žemaitaitis**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Jankauskienė. There has been intense controversy surrounding Seimas member R. Žemaitaitis regarding remarks deemed anti-Semitic. Can you provide context on what sparked this situation?
**Dr. Jankauskienė:** Certainly. The controversy began with Žemaitaitis’s comments on social media where he criticized Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė’s visit to Israel and made inflammatory statements linking Jewish actions to historical grievances. His remarks included praise for the demolition of a Palestinian school and comparisons of Israel to Putin’s regime. This led to accusations that his statements promote hatred and discord, prompting calls for impeachment.
**Interviewer:** How has the political landscape reacted to these statements?
**Dr. Jankauskienė:** The reactions have been quite polarized. While the ruling party is pushing for impeachment, viewing his remarks as incitement to hatred against Jews, the opposition has condemned his rhetoric but is hesitant to support impeachment measures. They argue that such actions may inadvertently give him a larger platform to further his divisive views.
**Interviewer:** Žemaitaitis has expressed he is unafraid of impeachment, suggesting it could boost his popularity. What does this suggest about political dynamics in Lithuania?
**Dr. Jankauskienė:** His comments reflect a growing trend among some populist politicians who believe controversy can translate into political capital. In Lithuania, as elsewhere, there is a segment of the populace that might rally behind figures they perceive as speaking truth to power, regardless of the backlash. This creates a backdrop where inflammatory rhetoric can galvanize support rather than diminish it.
**Interviewer:** The Attorney General’s Office is investigating him for potential hate speech. How important are these legal actions in maintaining social cohesion and international relations?
**Dr. Jankauskienė:** Legal actions are vital in addressing hate speech and upholding the principles of a democratic society. Such investigations serve as a deterrent against incitement and help protect social cohesion. They also signal to international partners that Lithuania takes issues of racial and ethnic hatred seriously, which is crucial in today’s global political climate.
**Interviewer:** What implications does this incident have for Lithuanian democracy moving forward?
**Dr. Jankauskienė:** This incident underscores the fragility of democratic discourse in Lithuania. It highlights a growing challenge of managing populist sentiments while maintaining a commitment to democratic values and respect for all communities. How the political landscape navigates this issue will likely shape future electoral dynamics and the broader health of Lithuania’s democracy.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Dr. Jankauskienė. It’s clear that this situation poses complex challenges for Lithuania moving forward.
**Dr. Jankauskienė:** Thank you for having me. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds in the coming weeks.
