V. Jankauskaitė-Milčiuvienė, head of the movement “Basos mamos”: Now they monopolize Lithuania – Respublika.lt
Although it is publicly stated that the just-ended spring session of the Seimas was intended to respond to the issues caused by the war in Ukraine, for some reason other ideas were also floated, including same-sex partnerships, civil unions, and decriminalization of drugs. As part of the welfare state, even parental leave benefits have been reduced.
The Seimas also turned a deaf ear to the request of family representatives. They recently sent a request to the Seimas, the President and the Government to announce initiatives that cross society and focus on the most important issues.
“Please, in the spring session of the Seimas, which is ending, draft laws that divide society and pay all attention to the solution of the most necessary, urgent social and economic issues: reduce VAT on food, excise taxes on fuel, increase the child allowance, equalize NPD and MMA, increase the basic amount applied to the public sector, make decisions for the poor To allocate one-time payments of 100 euros to the residents of Lithuania, to adopt legal acts presented by the President of the Republic of Lithuania, allowing more favorable financing of self-government and other decisions necessary for every family during this period,” the letter read.
– Did the authorities hear the families’ request? – “Vakar žinios” asked Vitalijas Jankauskaitė-Milčiuvienė, head of the “Basas mamos” movement, one of the signatories.
– I haven’t heard of anyone replying to this letter. Unfortunately, this practice is very common today. Non-governmental organizations appeal to the authorities and receive no response. You knock on the wall and no one responds. Under this government, this is the case all the time.
– When the Seimas adopted changes to parental allowances, you protested in the Seimas against such decisions. What are your impressions from that day?
– It is really difficult to be there. We expect a look of derision from those in power. The disrespect for motherhood, women, and families is surprising. One must have no conscience to vote for the reduction of parental leave benefits for mothers. No matter how they try to justify it, it is not. It seems anti-human to me. This is going against mothers and families.
– Were you surprised that the social democrats, Saulius Skvernelis’ “Vardan Lietuvos” democrats supported the changes?
– It was not surprising, because from some statements it was possible to predict that this would happen. Apparently, there is some sort of agreement with those in power. But it is interesting that Saulius Skvernelis left the hall during the voting. Other members of his party voted “for” and he left during the voting. This is political manipulation and trickery, when someone says that his party voted “for”, he will answer that he was not there, and his colleagues can vote freely. There were those among the conservatives as well. For example, Mykolas Majauskas also left.
– Seeing what decisions are made in the Seimas, do you think that the families’ requests to concentrate on the most important issues for all citizens were taken into account?
– Of course not. The government continued to pursue its policy and this was done with great speed, especially at the end of the spring session. These days it was seen that the last ones were trying to make the most important decisions for them. We can see that some issues were added to the agenda in the evening, and the next day they were adopted at the Seimas meeting.
You know, I’ve had people ask why we didn’t give notice that there was going to be one reception or another, why we didn’t hold a protest. I answer directly that we cannot do when we do not know what issue the government will decide tomorrow. With such a government, protesters should be rapid response teams.
– The same was done with the Partnership Law. If the law does not raise questions and it is really relevant to society, is there a need for such cookies?
– Obviously, those in power are afraid of public reactions. They predict that the planned decisions of the society will be unfavorable, taking certain steps as a hedge against the political creature. I don’t know what to call it. Probably audacity.
The sad thing is that it is no longer surprising. People have taken care of themselves so much that they don’t even get angry anymore.
This is a very bad phenomenon. As are the rumors that the elections should be boycotted.
I worry about this kind of debate because it only benefits conservatives. In Lithuania, very few people participate in elections anyway. If even fewer come, it will only benefit the conservatives. It was similar in the previous Seimas elections.
It worries me that people don’t understand. Apparently, all this is from people’s fatigue and frustration. At the same time, I hear that the pandemic has more than one promise. I often hear people say that they were not interested in politics before, but when they saw what was happening, they realized that they could not remain indifferent.
More and more people began to watch how members of the Seimas vote. And not one was surprised to see how his member of the Seimas, who had spoken completely differently until then, voted.
– It is a paradox that today, when a conservative is in power, issues such as drug decriminalization, reduction of parental benefits, partnership are adopted as number one on the parliamentary agenda?
– Paradox is just their name. Because they are neither conservatives nor Christian Democrats. Their name is misleading the nation.
There was a time when conservatives tried to monopolize exile. They were the supporters of the exiles, the builders of monuments, and so it was tried to say that the exiles were just conservatives.
After that, they tried to monopolize the Church, as if Christians in Lithuania were only conservatives.
Now they monopolize Lithuania, because it is as if they say that Lithuanians are only those who agree with their ideas, and those who disagree are agents of the Kremlin.
– Some voters do not understand and expected a conservative agenda?
– I think the majority. I have also heard from people of faith who say today that they have supported the Conservatives for many years and that they feel sorry for the decisions they make.
In this government, the main focus was on the agenda of the Freedom Party. Maybe not all issues are comfortable for conservatives, but because of being in the coalition, they betray Lithuania. It seems that this government is destroying everything that existed until now. Not even two years have passed since they came to power, and I already have no idea how everything should be restored under the new government. I’m not talking about accepting new projects anymore. There is a lot of work ahead. Not jealous of who will win the election.
Some people say, and I completely understand them, that maybe this government does not work for Lithuania. It seems to me that it is normal to raise these questions, seeing that what the government is doing is hostile to our country and our people.
Whether they do it out of ambition or consciously, I don’t know… I think some people in power do it consciously, while others just adapt. Maybe someday historians will explain it.
– You recently spoke on a social network that after publicly criticizing a conservative, you received attacks from Internet users. Is this a common practice?
– This is already becoming normal. After writing something, fake profiles come in the comments throwing all kinds of encouragement. If I write in the answer that I understand that this is a fake questionnaire, an avalanche of curses and insults begins. And conservatives are liking those comments. I see that and I understand what’s going on.