Subject: Local Politics
Part VIII
The contents of the review:
Brazauskas is again elected leader of the social democrats of Lithuania
Corruption scandal in the Lithuanian government
The ratings of the Lithuanian political parties is published
Estonia`s ruling party popularity rising
Main Latvian ideologue of a hard line in relations with Russia resigned
Brazauskas is again elected leader of social democrats of Lithuania
The last congress of the ruling Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania (Lietuvos Demokratine Darbo Partija - LDDP), which took place on May 15, in Vilnius has almost unanimously prolonged Algirdas Brazauskas's powers as chairman of the party. Brazauskas, the first president of independent Lithuania from 1992 to 1998, is at present the head of the government of Lithuania (since July, 2001) . His party is the political successor of the Communist party of Lithuania. One may suppose that for Brazauskas, who will turn 73 in September, this rise in the rank to leadership of the LDDP is his last one. Despite his communist past, in the field of foreign policy he stands at a frankly pro-Western position. During his public service Lithuania became part of NATO and the EU, and also sent its military contingents to Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan. The government of Brazauskas resolutely prohibits any attempts of Russia to interfere with the internal affairs of Lithuania, right up to the expulsion of Russian diplomats convicted of espionage in the territory of the country.
Corruption scandal in the Lithuanian government
A corruption scandal connected to the name of Viktor Uspaskich, the Minister of Economics of Lithuania, (Russian by origin), erupted in May. Uspaskich, the leader who is quickly gaining political support of the new Labour Party (Darbo Partija - DP), is accused under two articles. First, he is alleged to have lobbied the Lithuanian agricultural company "Krekenavos agrofirma ", within the framework of his contacts with the representative of Moscow`s government representative in the Baltic, Aleksandr Mizgar. And, secondly, he is suspected of subsidizing quotas to excess for the same "Krekenavos agrofirma" and another firm connected to it, "Krekenavos mësa", using funds of the EC SAPARD program, intended for support of agricultural sector enterprises. The situation is aggravated by a serious circumstance: Uspaskich did not simply showed "favor" to both specified firms, which could raise suspicion about a possible bribe, but as it was found out, he was the owner of 17,4 % of "Krekenavos agrofirma" shares in 2004. Thus, an elementary conflict of interest between ministerial activity and personal commercial interests took place. Uspaskich`s actions on the distribution of SAPARD program funds may lead to sanctions on Lithuania by the European Community leadership.
Some Lithuanian commentators have assumed in this connection , that the entire corruption scandal was initiated in Moscow. In their opinion, the Kremlin could easily palm off on the Lithuanian investigatory bodies false documents on Uspaskich`s ostensibly illegal activity. Subsequently, when it appears that the Russian Minister is cleared of any charges, Russia will make "the victim of Lithuanian Russofobia" a hero. And that will lift up his rating among the Russian-speaking population of Lithuania.
The ratings of the Lithuanian political parties published
The poll which was carried out in Lithuania on May 5-8, has shown a growing popularity of the Labour Party ("Darbo Partija") headed by the Minister of Economics, Uspaskich. 25, 5 % of the respondents are ready to cast their ballots for it, and this number has not changed since April's poll.
The conservatives from Homeland Union (Tëvynës Sàjunga) are in second place, with 12, 5 % supporting them (compared with 11, 7 % in April). In the meantime, the ruling Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania (Lietuvos Demokratine Darbo Partija) continues to lose support. In February its rating reached 11.5 %, but by the beginning of May, only 9, 5 % of the respondents were ready to vote for it. At the same time, forecasts for June are becoming foggy . It is possible that the corruption scandal in which Victor Uspaskich is involved will affect the rating of his party. On one hand, the voters of Lithuanian origin can join the supporters of conservatives and social democrats. On the other hand, the Russian-speaking population, motivated by "anti-Russian" scandal, can strengthen the support of Uspaskich personally and his Working party.
Estonia`s ruling party popularity rising
A poll, which was conducted in Estonia at the beginning of May, shows that the electoral rating of the ruling Estonian Centre Party (Eesti Keskerakond) is on the ascendancy (22 % in comparison with 18 % in March). After two years of being in the opposition the party came back to power in April 2005, having created a coalition with the Estonian Reform Party (Eesti Reformierakond) and the People's Union (Rahvaliit). The most popular politicians of the country, according to the poll, are the Minister of Economics Edgar Savisaar, the Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and the President Arnold Rüütel. It is necessary to note, that according to another poll, which was conducted at the end of May, 78 % of the Russian-speaking population of Estonia supports Rüütel's re-election for a second presidential term. Summing up the meaning of both polls – the public supports the positions of the ruling cabinet and the President on questions of internal and foreign policy, including relations with Russia.
Is the main Latvian ideologue of a hard line in relations with Russia, a Russian agent?
The astounding news of the resignation of the head of the Commission on international affairs of the Latvian parliament (Saeima), one of the leaders of the People's Party (Tautas Partija - TP), Aleksandrs Kirshteins, came from Riga on the evening of May 26. The next morning it was announced that Kirshteins left not only the parliamentary commission, but also was unanimously excluded from the ranks of the People's Party. According to the leader of TP's parliamentary faction, Janis Lagzdinsh, Kirshteins recently began to behave "eccentrically" in parliament and even permitted himself some obviously extremist statements relating to anti-Semitism.
"We are a rightwing, conservative party and our policy meets the traditional norms of Christian morals. We cannot allow to be represented in Parliament by an extremist Lagzdinsh said. His colleague in the faction, Dzintars Abikis, was even sharper in his criticism. In his opinion, Kirshteins entirely knowingly dared to make provocative statements, hoping to discredit the party. In this connection, Abikis came out with the assumption that Kirshteins is connected "with forces hostile to Latvia, with the foreign specialists". Representatives of TP in confidential conversations remarked that the party leadership does not deny the expelled Kirshteins' possible connection with the Russian secret services.
Since 1988 Alexander Kirshteins was active in the ranks of the Latvian National Independence Movement (Latvijas Nacionala Neatkaribas kustiba - LNNK). In 1997 he was expelled from it. In 1998 he was elected a chairman of the re-created National Reforms Party. However, just one year later, he moved to the People's party. Currently , according to Kirðteins' former colleagues, he plans to create a new "national" party.
Related items:
Part One: Behind the scenes of the Baltic Economic Forum: The true reason of the Russian boycott
Part Two: Foreign Policy - Mutual Relations with Russia
Part Three: Reaction of Russia to the policy of the Baltic states
Part Four: Foreign Policy - Lithuania
Part Five: Foreign Policy - Latvia
Part Six: Security Cooperation
Part Seven: Security Cooperation
Estonian Leadership Searches for Allies in Conflict with Russia
Intelligence Activity of the Russian Secret Services in Baltic Countries
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