
Tomas Janeliūnas EN



Lithuanian view: What to expect from Russia in 2017?
2017 could be the year of Russia’s return – the signs of this were discussed in a Tuesday afternoon discussion organised by the the Eastern Europe Studies Centre (RESC) and VU TSPMI. The political scientists discussed the topic of “What will decide Russian foreign policy in 2017?” It is likely that the government rotation of the West, the resolution of the stalled Syrian conflict and strategic changes to the Russian tone will open opportunities for de-escalation and Putin’s return as a figure that is repulsive for many, but at the same time – an inevitable partner in resolving questions in the international political arena. […]


New government’s vision – wishing to appear progressive, but…
The Lithuanian Peasant and Greens Union (LPGU) and the Lithuanian Social Democrat Party (LSDP) coalition’s “Harmonious Lithuanian Cabinet” programme project only dedicated its very last comments to foreign and defence policy – 10 pages of 117. While the new government does not propose any earthshattering changes, some new accents raise eyebrows. […]


An ELECTIONS of change: what to expect. Analysis
Both with the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) and the Lithuanian Peasant Greens Union (LVŽS) promise definite changes in Lithuanian tax, security and foreign policy political scientist Algis Krupavičius told LRT.lt. But how […]


ELECTIONS. The final battle for single-mandate districts – highlights
With less than two weeks remaining to the second round of Seimas elections, a number of candidates will be fighting for their survival in the political arena. It will be up to voters whether we will see Algirdas Paleckis, Naglis Puteikis, Artūras Zuokas, Aušra Maldeikienė, Virginija Bailtraitienė and others in the new Seimas. […]


ELECTIONS. New populists admire demise of the old populists
It was only four years ago that the Labour Party (DP) and Order and Justice (TT) got a quite a bit of support from some of the electorate. The latest polls show that both of […]


ELECTIONS. Poll: Lithuania reacts to the new Labour Code
The new Labour Code passed by the Seimas has not been well received by voters. Based on a poll by public opinion and market research company Vilmorus more than half of the respondents viewed the new Labour Code negatively. The negative perception of the code was found across the electorates of almost all parties, albeit less so among Social Democrat (LSDP) and Polish Electoral Action voters. […]


Russia ‘to use meeting with NATO to oppose increased deployments in Baltic’
As NATO and Russian officials are meeting for the first time in two years in Brussels on Wednesday, Lithuanian experts say Moscow will use the occasion to oppose NATO deployments in the Baltic States. […]


Social democrats and PM ‘not in control as they should be’
The ruling Social Democratic Party, which had until recently enjoyed unwavering popularity with voters, has found itself on a shaky ground recently. Political analysts say it is because the party’s leader, Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius, has failed to control controversial situations as he should. […]


Why Europe won’t protect its borders
The refugee crisis has uncovered a major flaw in the European Union‘s (EU) policy of free movement of people: porous external borders. Lithuanian commentators say some countries are just not interested in solving the problem. […]


Political scientists: Interior minister overreacted
Political scientists say that Saulius Skvernelis, Lithuania’s Interior Minister delegated by the party Order and Justice, overreacted when announcing his resignation. Political scientists say that although President Dalia Grybauskaite criticised the minister, she did not send a clear message that he should step down. […]




Hard times ahead for soon-to-be ex-mayor of Vilnius
As preliminary mayoral election results in Vilnius indicate victory for liberal Remigijus Šimašius, professor Tomas Janeliūnas of the International Relations and Political Science Institute of Vilnius University says that the political future for outgoing Mayor Artūras Zuokas will essentially depend on his visibility in the opposition of Vilnius City Council. […]


Parties weigh strategies and options before mayoral run-offs in Vilnius
After local elections in Lithuania last Sunday, the new Vilnius City Municipality Council will include 38 male and 12 female councillors. The Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania and the Russian Alliance Block of Valdemar Tomaševski delegated four women, the Liberal Movement, three, the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD), two, and the remaining parties that were voted in will have one woman representative each. […]




Baltic states – among world’s hot spots of 2015?
The news agency Bloomberg has included the Baltic states in the list of places in the world where geopolitical tensions could run high next year. […]


Political scientist: President Grybauskaitė’s invitation to Davos sign of recognition
Invitation of President Dalia Grybauskaitė to the World Economic Forum (WEF) shows her international recognition, says political analyst Tomas Janeliūnas from the Institute of International Relations and Political Science of Vilnius University. […]






Moscow’s plan to decoy the West
Moscow seems to be making effort to patch up its relations with the West after a fall-out over Ukraine by trying to refocus attention away from Eastern Europe and onto the Middle East. Experts say, however, that the trick might not work. […]


Why can Valdemar Tomaševski do as he likes?
It seems that it’s not only Algirdas Butkevičius’s patience that Valdemar Tomaševski has exhausted. […]

