Lithuania – For Everyone (Lithuanian: Lietuva – visų), known as the Emigrant Party (Lithuanian: Emigrantų partija) before 2020, is a minor political party in Lithuania which represents the interests of the Lithuanian diaspora.
Lithuania – For Everyone Lietuva - visų | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Tomas Pačėsas |
| Founded | January 9, 2012 |
| Ideology | Lithuanian diaspora interests |
| Political position | Centre |
| Website | |
| http://www.lietuva-visu.com | |
History
editThe party was founded as the Emigrant Party on 9 January 2012 in Kaunas. Its first chairman was Juozas Murauskas, a Lithuanian chauffeur and businessman who returned to Lithuania from Chicago and cited poor business opportunities for returning Lithuanian emigrants as the reason for the party's existence.[1] The party's founding conference was affected by technical issues - an attempt to start the conference with a song by emigrant pop singer Nijolė Tallat-Kelpšaitė was interrupted as the music recording unexpectedly included the singer's voice, and the party chairman failed to personally invite Mayor of Kaunas Andrius Kupčinskas to the conference.[1]
It vowed to legalize multiple citizenship in Lithuania and improve conditions for business by reducing business taxation.[2] It also vowed to establish a "Ministry of National Survival" which would be tasked with preventing emigration and suicides.[3] It did not achieve success in the 2012 parliamentary election and only received 0.29 percent of the proportional vote.[4] In spite of its alignment with the Lithuanian diaspora, less than 10 percent of the party's votes came from emigrant votes in Lithuania's diplomatic missions.[5]
The party intended to participate in the 2015 municipal elections in Kaunas, but withdrew from the race after its chairman was revealed to have failed to inform the Election Commission of his criminal record.[6] The party did not participate in the 2016 parliamentary elections nor 2019 municipal elections.
In January 2020, after several years of inactivity, the party changed its name to Lithuania – For Everyone and elected former professional basketball player Tomas Pačėsas as its new chairman.[7] The party changed its program and declared itself to be in favor of socially progressive economics, such as progressive taxation and reducing social exclusion.[8] It expressed scepticism towards restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania, and the party's chairman criticized high fines for not wearing face masks.[9]
In the 2020 parliamentary election, it received 0.97 percent of the vote, and did not win any seats.[10] The party's chairman Tomas Pačėsas received 4.47 percent of the vote in the Lithuanians Worldwide constituency, established to represent the Lithuanian diaspora.[11]
The party intended to participate in the 2023 municipal elections, but withdrew from the race on its own accord on 2 January 2023.[12]
Ideology
editThe party's initial goals were to legalize multiple citizenship and electronic voting in Lithuania, as well as to improve conditions for business with tax reductions.[13] After its reorganization to its current name, it also vowed to establish a social market economy in Lithuania and introduce progressive taxation, and it also criticized restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]
Election results
editSeimas
edit| Election | Votes[a] | % | Seats | +/– | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 4,015 | 0.31 (#16) | 0 / 141
|
 0
|
Opposition |
| 2020 | 11,352 | 0.97 (#14) | 0 / 141
|
0
|
Opposition |
- ^ Proportional representation votes.
References
edit- ^ a b Bulota, Šarūnas (9 January 2012). "Kaune steigiama Emigrantų partija". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian).
- ^ Žitnikas, Edmundas (7 March 2012). "Ar reikalinga Lietuvoje Emigrantų partija?". Delfi (in Lithuanian).
- ^ Tyrylytė, Laura (7 October 2012). "Nauji rinkimai - seni pažadai emigrantams". Delfi (in Lithuanian).
Vienas labiausiai išsiskiriančių pasiūlymų – Tautos išlikimo ministerija, kurios tikslas būtų emigracijos ir savižudybių prevencija. „Manome kad svarbiems sprendimams reikalinga atskira ministerija, kuri spręstų Lietuvos išlikimo klausimus. Tai yra didžiulė žaizda ir tam reikia rimtų veiksmų, nes lietuvius ištiks prūsų likimas, o kas dar gyvens – gyvens labai liūdnai", – pasiūlymą komentuoja 10 metų Čikagoje (JAV) gyvenęs lietuvis.
- ^ "Balsavimo rezultatai daugiamandatėje apygardoje". Supreme Electoral Commission of Lithuania (in Lithuanian). 2012.
- ^ "Rinkimų rezultatai LR diplomatinėse atstovybėse". Supreme Electoral Commission of Lithuania (in Lithuanian). 2012.
- ^ "Emigrantų partija išbraukta iš savivaldos rinkimų". Delfi (in Lithuanian). 12 February 2015.
- ^ Vireliūnaitė, Lauryna (24 June 2020). "Seimą šturmuos ant Emigrantų partijos griaučių išdygusi politinė jėga su Tomu Pačėsu priešakyje". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian).
- ^ a b Viluckas, Paulius (9 September 2020). "Rinkimai 2020: „Lietuva – visų" sieks, kad demokratija tarnautų visiems gyventojams". 15min.lt.
- ^ Petkauskas, Vilius (3 September 2020). "Tiesa ar melas? T.Pačėsas: "Bauda už veido kaukės nedėvėjimą Lietuvoje yra 500 eurų, Vokietijoje – 50 eurų"". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian).
- ^ "Balsavimo rezultatai daugiamandatėje apygardoje". Supreme Electoral Commission of Lithuania (in Lithuanian). 2020.
- ^ "Pasaulio lietuvių (Nr.71) apygarda". Supreme Electoral Commission of Lithuania (in Lithuanian). 2020.
- ^ Kvedaraitė, Vilija (2 January 2023). "Tomo Pačėso vesta partija "Lietuva – visų" antrų rinkimų nesulaukė". FM99 (in Lithuanian).
- ^ "Užregistruota Emigrantų partija". Delfi (in Lithuanian). 5 July 2012.