Key Points from the Meeting Between Hungarian and Lithuanian Political Figures
On Monday, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó met with Remigijus Žemaitaitis, the leader of the radical right-wing populist party Dawn of Nemunas in Lithuania. This meeting sparked significant attention due to Žemaitaitis’ controversial views and history of making anti-Semitic remarks.
Szijjártó highlighted that while Lithuanian politicians often do not express positive sentiments towards Hungary, he and Žemaitaitis share common ground on several issues. Both are seen as patriots who believe in a strong European Union composed of robust member states and nations. They also both oppose migration and advocate for economic policies based on common sense.
Background on Remigijus Žemaitaitis
Žemaitaitis was expelled from his previous political party in 2024 after the Lithuanian Constitutional Court ruled that his repeated anti-Semitic outbursts and hate speech violated his parliamentary oath and the Lithuanian constitution. Following this, he resigned from his parliamentary seat and founded the Dawn of Nemunas party.
Various quotes from Žemaitaitis, compiled by 444 using information from Tel Aviv University, reveal his extreme views:
- “How long will our politicians continue to kneel before the Jews, who killed our people and contributed to the oppression and torture of Lithuanians and the destruction of our country? When will the Jews apologize to us?”
- “We, the Lithuanian people, must never forget the Jews and Russians who actively contributed to the destruction of our nation!”
- “The descendants of the NKVD and KGB, i.e., the Jews are still ruling over the Lithuanians today.”
- “A Jew was climbing a ladder and he accidentally fell; grab a stick, kids, and kill that little Jew.” – he once quoted an alleged Lithuanian adage to suggest that Israel should not be surprised if anti-Semitism is on the rise in the world.
Reactions and Criticisms
The meeting between Žemaitaitis and Szijjártó drew criticism from the Lithuanian Social Democrats, the party of the country’s prime minister. They were not informed of the meeting in advance and view it as an attempt by Žemaitaitis, who does not hold a government position, to project a diplomatic line independent of the government’s foreign policy with the help of the Hungarian minister, whom they consider a Kremlin sympathizer.
“This is an attempt to develop an alternative foreign policy. But then, there’s no denying that Mr. Žemaitaitis is living in an alternate reality.”
– the Lithuanian Presidential Office stated in a separate statement.
Legal Issues Surrounding Žemaitaitis
Currently, Žemaitaitis is under legal investigation for his anti-Semitic statements. The country’s chief prosecutor has officially requested that parliament suspend his immunity, which the deputies voted for with 101 votes in favor, no votes against and no abstentions, thus allowing the criminal proceedings to continue, according to an article in 444.
Conclusion
The meeting between Szijjártó and Žemaitaitis underscores the complex political landscape in Europe, where figures with extreme views can gain influence despite their controversial histories. It also highlights the ongoing challenges in addressing anti-Semitism and ensuring that political leaders adhere to democratic values and principles.