Last week, TV host Ramanauskas apologised for remarks about Russian speakers; SD leader promised luxury tax, higher income tax for the wealthy
Lithuania one notch down on Global Innovation Index
Lithuania ranks 35th in the Global Innovation Index this year, the Innovation Agency said on Friday, the 27th of September. Last year, Lithuania was 34th among 132 countries. “The 35th place in the Global Innovation Index is a truly significant achievement, especially given today’s economic and geopolitical challenges,” Kotryna Tamoševičienė, head of the agency’s Research and Analysis Department, said in a statement. For the second year in a row, Lithuania ranks first among all countries in terms of the value of unicorns in relation to the size of its economy, the agency pointed out. The Global Innovation Index is compiled and published annually by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
“For Lithuania” leader says Lithuania needs to normalise ties with China
The next government will need to normalise relations with China, but this will have to be done not in a kneeling way, Saulius Skvernelis, leader of the Democratic Union “For Lithuania”, said on Friday, the 27th of September, in an interview to Žinių Radijas radio station. According to Skvernelis, Lithuania should develop its relations with China in line with the European Commission’s guidelines, which set out the directions for cooperation between EU member states and Beijing. The Democrats’ leader acknowledged that the next government will face a difficult task in improving relations with China. Relations between Lithuania and China turned sour in 2021 after Vilnius allowed Taipei to open its representative office with the word “Taiwanese”, rather than “Taipei’s”, in its name. In response, Beijing downgraded diplomatic ties with Vilnius and imposed trade restrictions.
Lithuania to sign Leopard purchase deal in November
Lithuania plans to sign a contract for the acquisition of Leopard 2 tanks in November, according to Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas. “The State Defence Council will convene in October, where we’ll make a final decision on the contract to create a tank battalion. I can definitely confirm that,” Kasčiūnas told the public broadcaster LRT on Thursday, the 26th of September. Lithuania made the decision to acquire this military equipment earlier this year as part of its efforts to develop a division. The Defence Ministry then began talks with the German manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and other countries also looking to acquire this equipment. Lithuania plans to buy the tanks in stages to speed up the acquisition of air defence systems.
Speaker thinks Belarus’ invitation to fix ties may be linked to election
Belarusian Foreign Minister Maksim Ryzhenkov’s calls for restoring relations with Vilnius might be linked to next month’s general election in Lithuania, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, speaker of the parliament, said on Thursday, the 26th of September. In his comment published on SB.by on Thursday, Ryzhenkov says that Minsk has repeatedly expressed its readiness to start consultations with Vilnius on normalizing relations between the two neighbouring countries. Čmilytė-Nielsen remarked that this is not the first time Belarus has signalled a dubious interest in getting closer to the West, only to pull back later. Čmilytė-Nielsen also noted that the timing of the comment may not be a coincidence, as Lithuanian citizens prepare to head to the polls in a few weeks to elect a new parliament. Žygimantas Pavilionis, chairman of the parliamentary Committee on European Affairs and head of the Provisional Group for Democratic Belarus, believes that Ryzhenkov’s comment could be a provocation.
Seimas starts ratifying pact on German troops’ rights
The Seimas on Thursday, the 26th of September, gave its initial backing to an agreement by Lithuania and Germany and defining the rights of German military and civilian personnel and their families in Lithuania. All 96 Lithuanian lawmakers, who attended the Thursday sitting, voted in favour. Lithuania also commits to providing German troops and civilians with access to necessary healthcare services, but the German military will be able to “establish health care, dental and veterinary facilities” if needed. The document also outlines procedures for the arrival and departure of brigade troops and other personnel, access to Lithuania’s military infrastructure, and the establishment of a military postal service, a radio station, and driving schools. In addition, the agreement covers employment, taxes, tax exemptions, environmental protection, customs procedures, and law enforcement matters, including potential detention and imprisonment.
TV host apologises for “shoot-Russian-speakers” remarks
Television host Algis Ramanauskas on Tuesday, the 24th of September, apologised for his remarks about Russian-speaking people. Ramanauskas offered his apology to the Russian-speaking community in Lithuania through a Facebook post. In his YouTube chat with Vytautas Sinica of the National Alliance party, Ramanauskas made hostile remarks about Russian speakers and those who engage with Russian culture, saying that they should be “deprived of their children and then shot”. Earlier on Tuesday, the Lithuanian Human Rights Centre said that it had complained to law enforcement authorities about Ramanauskas’ statements. The Lithuanian Social Democratic Party and MP Ligita Girskienė of the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union also turned to prosecutors. Ramanauskas’ statements were condemned by Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, speaker of the Lithuanian parliament, and Justice Minister Ewelina Dobrowolska.
Ministry sees three inquiries about evacuation from Lebanon
Amid Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry is advising citizens to leave the country immediately and has received three inquiries about evacuation options, Paulina Levickytė, the foreign minister’s advisor, said on Tuesday, the 24th of September. Levickytė said flights from Beirut were still available and sea ferry services were also operating. Israel carried out devastating strikes in various parts of Lebanon on Monday and Tuesday. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, the airstrikes killed more than 550 people, the deadliest single-day toll since Hezbollah and the Jewish state went to war in 2006.
Lithuania’ holds first drill for train evacuation of disabled people
On Tuesday, the 24th of September, Lithuania held its first ever drill on the evacuation of people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups by train as part of the wider bid to test the country’s mobilization system. For the first time, people with real disabilities and residents of care homes, rather than extras, took part in this type of exercise. Vilmantas Vitkauskas, who leads the National Crisis Management Centre, told journalists that a total of 160 people took part in this part of the exercise. There are about 2 000 people with disabilities in Vilnius who would need to be evacuated this way.
SD leader promises luxury tax, higher income tax for the wealthy
Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, leader of the opposition Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), has pledged that if her party wins next month’s parliamentary elections, they will tax luxury items, raise the personal income tax rate for the wealthy, and increase the corporate income tax. “Can we accept that 600 000 people are living below the poverty line in Lithuania? Pensions are too low, healthcare, education, the police and various other areas are underfunded. This situation cannot continue in our state,” Blinkevičiūtė said during an election debate hosted by the public broadcaster LRT on Monday, the 23rd of September. The LSDP aims to increase budget redistribution to 36% of GDP, which would bring an additional three billion euros into the state’s coffers, according to Blinkevičiūtė. Lithuania will elect its new parliament on the 13th of October.
President calls for UN reform as Russia’s war in Ukraine continues
President Gitanas Nausėda on Monday, the 23rd of September, called for a reform of the United Nations and the restoration of a rules-based international order as Russia’s war in Ukraine continues. “Lithuania calls on the international community to step up its efforts to limit Russia’s ability to continue its colonial war. Russia must be forced to fully withdraw from all Ukrainian territory. Unfortunately, the lack of a multilateral response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine raises serious doubts about the ability of the United Nations to maintain peace and security in the world,” Nausėda told the UN Summit of the Future in New York, emphasising that Russia ought to be kicked out from the Security Council for its destructive actions. Nausėda also stressed the need to tackle the climate crisis and to step up efforts to achieve sustainable development goals.