Waldemar Tomaszewski: We’ve been fighting for this result for over 20 years

An interview with Waldemar Tomaszewski, a leader of the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania [Polish: Akcja Wyborcza Polaków na Litwie, AWPL] and member of the European Parliament. 

What was the main reason of AWPL’s success in the Sunday elections? 

We’ve been fighting incessantly for this result for over 20 years. The other reason of our success is the fact that during the elections we had a tight, competent group consisting of experienced, honest and incorruptible people. Even before the beginning of the election campaign it was visible that the citizens of our country believed in AWPL because our party became an absolute leader among all political parties in Lithuania in terms of the number of donations of 1% of the income tax for political parties. If people didn’t believe in us, they wouldn’t give us their support. It is important that we managed to unite people of good will regardless of their nationality. It was extremely important because every vote was significant.

What does the victory of AWPL mean for the Polish community in Lithuania? 

Polish representation in the Parliament will definitely improve the position of Poles in Lithuania. I don’t know if we manage to become a part of the governing coalition but the presence of the numerous Polish representation in the national Parliament will help to solve many problems. We will be more visible. Our presence in the Parliament will help to solve many problems, for example at the local government level. Of course, if we mange to become a part of the Cabinet, it will give our activity a totally new quality.

What are your main tasks now? 

We’ve already have six seats in the future Parliament. Now in the second ballot we are fighting for next six seats in the single-member constituencies. It is our prime task now. I think that the current discussion about the future coalition is too early. In two weeks we are going to choose next 68 members of the Parliament and then we will know what the future coalition will be like. In my opinion, it is feasible that AWPL will have 9-10 seats in the future Parliament.

Source: http://kurierwilenski.lt/2012/10/15/waldemar-tomaszewski-o-ten-wynik-walczylismy-ponad-20-lat/

Tłumaczenie Karolina Rolka w ramach praktyk w Europejskiej Fundacji Praw Człowieka, www.efhr.eu. Translated by Karolina Rolka the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights, www.efhr.eu.