Linas Jegelevičius
How 2022 will be remembered for years, decades, and centuries to come is certainly clear – the year of war in Ukraine, the year of monster inflation, and the year of the abating yet fighting back coronavirus pandemic.
Amid the gloom shadowing the turn of years, BNN spoke to a mottled variety of Lithuanians, enquiring how 2022 has been for them. And what do they expect from 2023?
Andžej Pukšto, associate professor at Kaunas’ Vytautas Magnus University, told BNN that, for him, the elapsing year was all about the war in Ukraine.
«Everything – from the lives lost to the subsequent economic dire-straits – was related to it.
However, in terms of the COVID pandemic that has been plaguing the world – and Lithuania – for the last couple of years, the public health contingency was slowly abating. However, at the beginning of the year, it was unclear yet if we will manage to rein it in,» the analyst said.
Internationally, 2022 has been much better than expected for the Joe Biden-led American administration, Pukšto emphasized.
«The United States has been playing the first fiddle in the war and has shown itself as the world leader we’ve known it for years. Biden’s presidency is quite successful, and the mid-term House and Senate election results clearly show that» the analyst said.
To him, Liz Truss’ resigning as Britain’s prime minister after a disastrous six-week tenure, making her the UK’s shortest-serving PM, is the other noteworthy international event.
«The country seemed quite in a mess at certain stretches of the year, and the demise of the queen, Elizabeth II, was also a big event, one very sad,» he said.
Asked to opine on the course of the war in 2023, the associate professor pondered that it will perhaps be nearing its end by the expiration of 2023.
«But problems for Ukraine will have not been gone anywhere. The country faces huge challenges in rebuilding itself, and the West, quite united at the end of 2022, may not be speaking in a single voice in a year from now,» Pukšto predicted.
Enquired about who has an edge in the coming municipal council election in Lithuania on March 5, he was succinct: «It will be bad for the ruling party (The Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats – L.J.). It never does great in local elections. Especially now, with the economy foundering.»
A prominent missionary priest, Father Antanas Saulaitis SJ, told BNN that 2022 has brought not only sadness and dismay stemming from the war but also a lot of joy.
«My book «Misionierius» («The Missionary»), authored by Aurelija Savickienė, a great journalist, is finally out. We’ve had already several presentations,» Father Saulaitis said.
Like many others, he says he wishes the unity the Western world has shown following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 will last during 2023 too.
Asked what makes him anxious in the spiritual realm, the prominent missionary admitted that not only Catholicism but also other faiths incur a lot of undeserved beating.
«Sadly, sometimes I see some biased wide-scale propaganda being waged against an organized religion…I wish that we, human beings, were more considerate, generous, and spiritual in 2023. However, it is up to each of us – do we want that, what we preach and what our true values our,» Father Antanas Saulaitis told BNN.
Approached by BNN, Dainius Žalimas, former President of Lithuania’s Constitutional Court, and a distinguished lawyer, said the war was on the lips of most people in 2022 and so on his.
«Looking further, the last thing I’m expecting is negotiations between the sides. Talks seem improbable at this stage. The ultimate wish I have coincides with that of the majority – that Ukraine fee its occupied territories,»
he said.
Among the noteworthy events in 2023, the professor of constitutional and international law, discerns the local council elections to be held at the beginning of March.
«It is very hard to prognosticate them, but I believe we can see some very unexpected results,» Žalimas said, adding that the boon of the ruling Conservative-Liberal Coalition is the firm and consistent stance on the exterior threats, yet much weaker internally because of the acute economic issues.
«We will see what will appear more important to the voters,» he added.
Meanwhile, asked about 2022, Lithuanian economists singled out a surge in inflation, mostly triggered by the war unleashed by Russia in Ukraine, as the most significant economic development of the year.
Annual inflation in Lithuania has rolled over 20 percent for five consecutive months and reached a 26-year peak of 24,1 percent in September.
High inflation has been a very serious challenge for households, new homeowners, and buyers, as well as businesses and public finances.
«Average annual inflation was very high, which led to a decline in household purchasing power and in particular affected the purchasing power of low and medium-income households. It also has a serious impact on the gap between social groups,»
said Vaidas Gaidelys, a Kaunas University of Technology professor.
Some economists discern the adoption of the 2023 budget with a 4,9 percent deficit and a massive aid package, aimed at helping households and businesses cushion the effects of higher energy prices, among the elapsing year’s top events.
Nomeda Kazlaus, a celebrity Lithuanian opera singer who has played a number of leading roles in European opera houses, told BNN that, in 2022, she was happy to finally be able to sing live on stage.
«The pandemic restrictions were tough, so being able to see concertgoers back in the concert halls was great. However, the war in Ukraine has been a big spoiler – a tragedy, which made me very sad. I hope that, in 2023, Ukraine’s victory will come. In terms of spirituality, I want to hope that 2023 will be a year of change, marking a reassessment of our values – life is not only about shows and shopping, but also exuding love, kindness and searching for the essence of our life,» Kazlaus underlined to BNN.