EAPL leaves the coalition: “Honesty – above all”

The representatives of the EAPL stated that they cannot allow the largest parties to decide about whom the EAPL should delegate to be the secretary or undersecretary, the EAPL will not act as a younger brother, therefore it decided to leave the coalition. © L24 (Fot. Marian Paluszkiewicz)

Today a meeting of the political council of the Lithuanian coalition was held, over which Waldemar Tomaszewski, the leader of the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania (EAPL) presided. The members of the coalition discussed the issues concerning the functioning of the coalition in the future. After the meeting of the coalition members the EAPL informed that they left the coalition.

„The discussion of issues was accompanied by long talks, during which the social democratic party didn’t hide its critical approach towards the EAPL. The political grouping “Order and Justice” and the Labour Party tried to maintain the coalition of four parties, however the social democrats insisted that the AEPL be an additional grouping in the form of a “3+1” coalition without the possibility of work in the Department of Energy. We would like to remind that the EAPL has yet again delegated Jarosław Niewierowicz to be the head of that department” – we can read in the special statement of the EAPL.

The EAPL explains why it left the coalition.

„The Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius has dismissed Jarosław Niewierowicz’s candidacy for the head of the department of energy in an outright manner. In the ensuing situation the representatives of the EAPL taking part in the meeting: the leader of the grouping Waldemar Tomaszewski, the vice chairman of the party Leonard Talmont, the chairwoman and the vice chairwoman of the EAPL fraction in the Seimas Rita Tamašunienė and Wanda Krawczonok – stated that they cannot allow the largest parties to decide about whom the EAPL should delegate to be the secretary or undersecretary, the EAPL will not act as a younger brother, therefore it decided to leave the coalition.” – stated the EAPL’s Press Office today.

„The commentators point out that the principled position of the EAPL is creditable, and the real cause of the rift between the coalition members are the interests of particular business structures, i.a. in the department of energy. Therefore the undersecretary from the EAPL Renata Cytacka, who was an exceptionally honest and competent person, and during her work did not yield to pressure and extortion from the business groups, was an uncomfortable person for them.” – explains the Press Office.

The EAPL stated that after their leave from the coalition they will „keep an eye on them”.

„The work in the opposition to keep an eye on the coalition the EAPL considers as necessary, because it is of the mind that there are a lot of abuses and cases of corruption, especially in the social democratic party. The worst thing is that there are not many people in the coalition, except for the EAPL, who think about a regular citizen of our country and his interest. The EAPL, who is thought of as a solid and honest grouping, cannot risk its good reputation to work in questionable circumstances, which, unfortunately, have been occurring a lot. The coalition, after the EAPL has left, still has the majority of votes, which made it difficult for the EAPL to work in the coalition. Considering the increasing popularity of the EAPL and the growing number of votes cast in favour of this grouping during the consecutive elections, there is a large probability that the votes for the EAPL might tip the balance, which will increase the chances to implement the party’s programme” – we read in the statement.

The EAPL believes that it will once again be the member of the Lithuanian coalition.

The EAPL has been a member of the coalition thrice: in years 2000-2001, 2006-2008 and 2012-2014. Up till now the best situation was in 2000-2001 when only two votes determined the majority and back then the EAPL was able to get the posts of undersecretary of education and science and the deputy governor of the Vilnius district, but there is also a chance that, by the will of Providence, such a situation will repeat itself and lead to the adoption of the law on education propitious for the national minorities, and that the EAPL’s vote will be a decisive one during the formation of a new ruling majority in Lithuania” – predicts the EAPL.