Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania – Christian Families Alliance

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Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania – Christian Families Alliance
Lietuvos lenkų rinkimų akcija – Krikščioniškų šeimų sąjunga
Akcja Wyborcza Polaków na Litwie – Związek Chrześcijańskich Rodzin
European affiliationEuropean Conservatives and Reformists Party
European Parliament groupEuropean Conservatives and Reformists
ColoursMaroon and blue
Seimas
3 / 141
European Parliament
1 / 11
Municipal councils
57 / 1,498
[5]
Mayors
1 / 60
Website
www.awpl.lt
Elderships where Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania – Christian Families Alliance had majority of votes during 2020 Lithuania's parliamentary election (AWPL in pink)

Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania – Christian Families Alliance or EAPL–CFA (Lithuanian: Lietuvos lenkų rinkimų akcija – Krikščioniškų šeimų sąjunga or LLRA–KŠS; Polish: Akcja Wyborcza Polaków na Litwie – Związek Chrześcijańskich Rodzin or AWPL–ZCHR) is a political party in Lithuania. It represents the Polish minority and positions itself as Christian-democratic.[1][2] It has 3 seats in the Seimas, 1 seat in the European Parliament and 57 seats in municipal councils after the 2023 local election.

Formed in 1994 from the political wing of the

election threshold for any of the Seimas's 70 proportional representation seats. In the 2009 European election, they won 8.2% and one seat. The party's vote is concentrated in the south-east of the country, around the capital, where the Polish minority is located. At the 2012 election
, LLRA broke through 5% in a parliamentary election for the first time: qualifying for proportional representation seats.

In the Seimas, the party sits with fellow right-leaning party

ACRE.[needs update
]

History

At the beginning of 1994 the law on social organisations was adopted. According to this law, social organisations had to transform into political parties or simply remain social organizations. Till that time the

Lithuanian Ministry of Justice to remove the word 'Union' from the name of the party, it was registered as the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania (LLRA). During the Founding Conference of 1994 and 1997 Jan Sienkiewicz
was elected as LLRA leader. In 1999 during the 3rd LLRA Conference Valdemar Tomaševski became the chairman of the organisation. Moreover, Tomaševski was elected as leader in the 4th and 5th LLRA Conferences.

The LLRA takes part in various elections – starting with municipal through parliamentary and ending with the elections to the

Union of the Russians of Lithuania
had cooperated with the LLRA in elections, running within a common list in 2004.

In 2016, Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania changed its name to Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania – Christian Families Alliance.[7]

Ideology

The party's primary aim is not ideological, but the protection and enhancement of the rights of the Polish minority,[8] who make up 7% of Lithuania's population.[9] Their main policies include the restoration of land seized from Poles by the Soviet government, the improvement of the education system and allowing the use of the Polish language in schools, and giving official recognition to the Polish orthography of names.[6]

It supports a more influential political role for the Roman Catholic Church, mandatory religious education in schools,[10] and a reduction in the number of Lithuanian parliamentarians from 141 to 101 coupled to an increase in the number of local councillors. Since 2005, it unsuccessfully tried to submit bills to penalize abortion.[11]

In the past, LLRA's leader Valdemar Tomaszewski was considered to be a

Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, describing him as "crossing the line".[14] The mass media in Poland also criticized Tomaszewski and urged for stopping financial support for "Putin's allies".[15] Moreover, at the time Tomaszewski opposed to support the Ukrainian government formed following the Revolution of Dignity, sought for closer cooperation with Belarus, had no opinion if Lithuania should stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian-side in the Crimean question and described Russia as "probably not" dangerous for the security of Lithuania.[16] Tomaszewski and other members of the LLRA participate in the mass public Victory Day (9 May) commemorations.[17][18] In September 2020, Tomaszewski and the LLRA fraction in Seimas did not participate in a voting on adopting a resolution regarding the illegal and imposed union of Russia with Belarus and stated that it creates tension between neighbors.[19] Moreover, Tomaszewski criticized Lithuanian government for its support to the Belarusian opposition, banning of Russian media channels, and compared the annexation of Crimea as an analogy with the Kosovo question.[20][21] In August 2020, Tomaszewski narrated that "there is nothing worse than revolutions".[22] Soon afterwards the LLRA scored 4,82% during the 2020 Lithuanian parliamentary election and did not qualify to the Thirteenth Seimas of Lithuania.[23]

In 2017, LLRA member Zbignev Jedinskij criticized Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis support to increase Lithuania's defensive spending to 2,5% of its gross domestic product since 2020 and instead suggested to sign a non-aggression pact between Lithuania and Russia.[13] While during the 2020–2021 Belarusian protests Jedinskij stated that the Belarusian police forces are defending the Constitution of Belarus, despite numerous human rights issues related to the suppression of the 2020 Belarusian protests.[13]

Following the beginning of the

Bolshevik times" and that "the ribbon actually stands for the heroic struggle against the real evil – fascism".[26][13]

For the first time since 1995, LLRA's member Waldemar Urban lost the 2023 mayor election of the Vilnius District Municipality to Robert Duchniewicz,[27][28] who publicly describe the members of the LLRA as "woldemortians that scare the people to vote and to work off for them".[29] On 12 June 2023 the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Lithuania stated that the LLRA-KŠS indirectly bribed voters by giving gifts to children in the Vilnius District last year and that persons belonging to the electoral list of candidates for the Vilnius District Council and the then mayoral candidate Waldemar Urban conducted campaigning that did not comply with the principles of fair and honorable elections.[30]

External relations

LLRA is a member of the Europe-wide anti-

EPP group,[8] to which Civic Platform belong and to which LLRA had been considered likely to join.[31] Its youth wing belongs to the European Young Conservatives
.

Since 2008 the party is actively collaborating with the Russian Alliance (Russian: Русский альянс) and previously formed an electoral alliance with the Lithuanian Russian Union.[32][33]

The party has received criticism from some Polish politicians for its support and connections to Russian politicians.[34]

The LLRA is criticized by ethnic Pole Robert Duchnevič, who was elected mayor of the Vilnius District Municipality in 2023 and described it as "the victory not only of the Vilnius district, but also the entire Lithuania".[35] Moreover, Robert Duchnevič and Ewelina Dobrowolska publicly stated that the "tomaševskians should not be called as party of the Poles".[36]

In May 2023, Mateusz Morawiecki, the Prime Minister of Poland, awarded Stanisław Pieszko (member of the central board of the LLRA, who in the past refrained during a parliamentary voting for adopting the Act of March 11 in 1990) and Waldemar Tomaszewski with the badges of honor for services to the Polish diaspora.[20][37] The awarding was described by the Lithuanian media as a scandal, was criticized in the Polish media and by Lithuanian politicians (e.g. signatories Rimvydas Valatka, Česlav Okinčic), and the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs discussed it with the Polish ambassador in Lithuania.[37][20]

Electoral results

Seimas

Election Votes[a] % Seats +/– Government
1992 39,772 2.1 (#7)
4 / 141
 Opposition
1996 40,941 3.1 (#9)
1 / 141
 Decrease 3 Opposition
2000 28,641 1.9 (#10)
2 / 141
 Increase 1 Coalition (2000–2001)
Opposition (2001–2004)
2004 45,302 3.8 (#7)
2 / 141
 Steady Opposition
2008 59,237 4.8 (#8)
3 / 141
 Increase 1 Opposition
2012 79,840 5.8 (#7)
8 / 141
 Increase 5 Coalition (2012–2014)
Opposition (2014–2016)
2016 69,810 5.7 (#6)
8 / 141
 Steady Opposition (2016–2019)
Coalition (2019–2020)
2020 56,386 5.0 (#7)
3 / 141
 Decrease 5 Opposition
  1. ^ Proportional representation votes

European Parliament

Election Votes % Seats +/–
2004 68,937 5.7 (#7)
0 / 13
2009 46,293 8.2 (#5)
1 / 12
 Increase 1
2014 92,108 8.0 (#6)
1 / 11
 Steady
2019 69,263 5.5 (#7)
1 / 11
 Steady

Municipal councils

Municipality Votes[38] Seats Mayor
Vilnius 23,892
7 / 51
 No
Vilnius District Municipality 21,127
18 / 31
 No
Šalčininkai District Municipality 12,134
21 / 25
 Yes
Trakai District Municipality 2,683
6 / 25
 No
Švenčionys District Municipality 997
2 / 25
 No
Visaginas Municipality 684
2 / 25
 No
Širvintos District Municipality 317
1 / 21
 No

Leaders

Members of Parliament before 2019 election

Parliamentarian Since
Zbignev Jedinskij 2012
Vanda Kravčionok 2012
Juzef Kvetkovskij 2012
Michal Mackevič 2008
Jaroslav Narkevič 2008
Irina Rozova 2004–2008; since 2012
Leonard Talmont 2008
Rita Tamašunienė 2012

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Nordsieck, Wolfram (2020). "Lithuania". Parties and Elections in Europe. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-1482250718
    .
  3. ^ "European Social Survey 2014 Appendix A3" (PDF). European Social Survey. 2014. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  4. ^ Kaniok, Petr; Hloušek, Vít (2016). "Euroscepticism and the prospects of future enlargement of the EU" (PDF). p. 6. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  5. ^ "2023 m. savivaldybių tarybų rinkimai - vrk.lt". vrk.lt.
  6. ^ a b "Lithuanian coalition". Warsaw Business Journal. 24 April 2006. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  7. ^ "Pavadinimas LLRA-KŠS – oficialiai įregistruotas". LLRA-KŠS (in Lithuanian). 16 June 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  8. ^
    doi:10.1111/j.1467-923X.2009.02067.x
    .
  9. ISBN 978-83-89607-81-2
    . Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  10. ^ "LLRA pirmininku perrinktas V. Tomaševskis norėtų būti premjeras (papildyta)". Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  11. Liberties
    , 28 February 2017
  12. ISSN 0013-0613
    .
  13. ^ a b c d e Kasnikovskytė, Monika. "Lenkų rinkimų akciją lydintys skandalai – nuo Georgijaus juostų iki pietų už valstybės pinigus". TV3.lt (in Lithuanian).
  14. 15min.lt
    , Zw.lt (in Lithuanian).
  15. ^ Grigaliūnaitė, Violeta (20 March 2018). "Valdančiuosius remianti Lenkijos spauda: negalime finansuoti V.Putino sąjungininkų Lietuvoje". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian).
  16. DELFI
    (in Lithuanian).
  17. ^ "Valdemaras Tomaševskis gegužės 9-osios minėjime: šiandien Pergalės diena". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). 9 May 2017.
  18. ^ Jakučionis, Saulius (9 May 2018). "Pergalės dieną Antakalnio kapinėse minėjo šimtai žmonių". Kaunodiena.lt (in Lithuanian).
  19. ^ Levickytė, Paulina (10 September 2020). "Tomaševskis: LLRA-KŠS principingai nedalyvavo rezoliucijos dėl Baltarusijos balsavime – tai kelia įtampą tarp kaimynių". Lithuanian National Radio and Television (in Lithuanian).
  20. ^ a b c Beniušis, Vaidotas. "Politinis akibrokštas: lietuvius supykdė Lenkijos premjero poelgis Vilniuje". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  21. ^ Brunalas, Benas. "V. Tomaševskis piktinasi propagandinių rusiškų kanalų uždraudimu Lietuvoje ir vadina tai grėsme rusų tautybės žmonėms". Lrytas.lt (in Lithuanian).
  22. DELFI
    (in Lithuanian).
  23. ^ Baltrukevičius, Matas (13 October 2020). "Tikrieji rinkimų nugalėtojai ir pralaimėtojai". Vilniaus politikos analizės institutas (in Lithuanian).
  24. ^ "Europoseł Tomaszewski współautorem rezolucji PE wspierającej Ukrainę". AWPL-ZCHR (in Polish). Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  25. ^ "2 marca Msza Święta w intecji pokoju na Ukrainie". AWPL-ZCHR (in Polish). Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  26. ^ Brunalas, Benas (25 March 2022). "Tomaševskis nuomonės dėl Georgijaus juostelės uždraudimo nekeičia: tai būtų grįžimas į bolševikų laikus". Lithuanian National Radio and Television (in Lithuanian).
  27. ^ "2023 m. kovo 19 d. savivaldybių tarybų ir merų rinkimai (II turas)". Lietuvos Respublikos vyriausioji rinkimų komisija (in Lithuanian).
  28. ^ "Savivaldos rinkimai: istorinė R. Duchnevič pergalė Vilniaus rajone, Vilniuje nugalėjo V. Benkunskas". Bernardinai.lt (in Lithuanian). 20 March 2023.
  29. ^ Tapinas, Andrius; Duchnevič, Robert (13 March 2023). "Žmonės yra woldemortų prigąsdinti, kad reikia už juos balsuoti ir atidirbti, – Robert Duchnevič". YouTube (in Lithuanian).
  30. ^ Jaruševičiūtė-Mockuvienė, Gailė. "VRK konstatavo: LLRA-KŠS netiesiogiai papirkinėjo rinkėjus". DELFI (in Lithuanian).
  31. ^ "Polski eurodeputowany z Litwy w EPP?". Rzeczpospolita. 9 June 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  32. ^ Gotowiecki, Pawel (2017). "Lithuanian Poles as an element of the hybrid war" (PDF). Strona. 1 (8): 212.
  33. ^ "Lietuvos lenkų rinkimų akcijos ir Lietuvos rusų sąjungos koalicijos "Kartu mes jėga!" iškelti kandidatai". Vrk.lt (in Lithuanian).
  34. ^ Gielewska, Anna; Dzierżanowski, Marcin (25 June 2018). "Do Polonii Litewskiej przenikają ludzie Kremla? Polskie władze zbadają sprawę". WPROST.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  35. ^ Jokubauskas, Vytautas (30 March 2023). "LLRA–KŠS nukarūnavęs R. Duchnevičius: tai yra ne tik Vilniaus rajono, bet ir visos Lietuvos pergalė". Vz.lt (in Lithuanian).
  36. ^ Tapinas, Andrius; Dobrowolska, Ewelina; Duchnevič, Robert. ""Nevadinkim tomaševskininkų lenkų partija", - R. Duchnevič ir E. Dobrovolska". YouTube (in Lithuanian).
  37. ^
    LNK
    (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  38. ^ "2023 m. savivaldybių tarybų rinkimai - vrk.lt". vrk.lt.

External links

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