“The party system’s fragility is causing concern, as well as large businesses founding parties like puppets. One blurred party was founded, another was divided, and we also have a judicial process which is pulling the whole political system down,” Landsbergis told the party’s convention on Saturday, referring to political parties mentioned in a recent report by the State Security Department.
In his words, Agrokoncernas, a business group that belongs to Ramūnas Karbauskis, leader of the ruling Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union, is also a cause for concern.
The TS-LKD leader is also worried about attempts to change Lithuania’s geopolitical direction.
“Russia has been and remains a strategic threat to Lithuania’s security. I see any withdrawal from this position as a betrayal of Lithuania’s security interests. There’s must be no doubt that it’s a principled position of all of us, the red line we must not cross. A democratic and westernized Russia is Lithuania’s goal. And foreign policy instruments should focus on that and not on alleged pragmatic cooperation with a Russia ruled by tsar Putin‘s corruption and aggression,” Landsbergis said.
He called on Lithuania to initiate a European coalition united by common goals and values.
“Lithuania joined the US in 2001. Today, I suggest we propose to Europe such a coalition and invite everyone who wants what we want to join. (…) I do believe that our choice to be together with Western partners is reflected in the adoption of the Magnitsky law. I do believe that Lithuania is capable of creating a European coalition of Magnitsky countries,” Landsbergis said.