Lithuania: Homeland Union chair urges to block radicals from power

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, chairman of the ruling Homeland Union (TS-LKD), called on President Gitanas Nauseda to set up a “cordon sanitaire” to prevent radical political forces from coming to power after the parliamentary elections in October 2024, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Landsbergis warned that pandering to radical political forces leads to tragic events. Earlier, Nauseda suggested that the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP), which is leading in pre-election polls, would refuse to form a coalition government with TS-LKD. Meanwhile, TS-LKD has urged LSDP to discuss possible cooperation to block radicals from power, pointing to the new far-right opposition party, Dawn of Nemunas. However, LSDP chairperson Vilija Blinkeviciute has refused to rule out forming a coalition with the Dawn of Nemunas, which is polling second. The party is led by antisemitic former MP Remigijus Zemaitaitis.