Lithuanian Coalition Leader Fined for Anti-Jewish Hatred and Holocaust Belittlement
A Lithuanian court has delivered a significant verdict, finding Remigijus Zemaitaitis, leader of the junior coalition party Nemunas Dawn, guilty of inciting hatred against Jewish people and belittling the Holocaust. The ruling, issued on Thursday by the Vilnius Regional Court, relates to social media posts made by Zemaitaitis in 2023.
Court Details and Fine Imposed
Zemaitaitis, the founder of the populist Nemunas Dawn, was penalized with a 5,000 euro ($5,835) fine. The court determined that his online remarks falsely attributed historical crimes to the Jewish community as a whole, thereby promoting hostility and reinforcing negative stereotypes. The judicial body explicitly stated that Zemaitaitis "publicly mocked and despised Jewish people and incited hatred against the Jewish community" through his social media activity. Furthermore, the court noted his use of "degrading, derogatory to human dignity, and which incites hostility on ethnic grounds" language.
Denial and Appeal
Despite the conviction, Zemaitaitis has consistently maintained his innocence, asserting that the verdict is politically motivated. He informed the BNS news agency on Thursday of his intention to appeal the court's decision.
Political Context and Public Reaction
This controversy previously led to Zemaitaitis's resignation from parliament in April 2024. However, he was re-elected in October of the same year, and his Nemunas Dawn party subsequently joined the new Social Democrat-led coalition government. It's important to note that Zemaitaitis himself does not hold a ministerial position within the government.
Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene, who leads a three-party coalition with a narrow parliamentary majority, stated that she had not yet reviewed the court's ruling. Her Social Democratic Party issued a statement acknowledging and respecting the court's decision, while also highlighting that the verdict is not yet final, pending any appeals.
The inclusion of Nemunas Dawn in the government has sparked considerable public opposition. Thousands of protestors gathered at the parliament building in Vilnius in November 2024 and again in August of the current year, expressing their disapproval of the party's role in the ruling coalition.