Ragelskis: There's Nothing Nationally Oriented in Any of Lithuania's Parties

Behind the loud names and ideological slogans of Lithuanian parties, people increasingly see a simple struggle for influence and access to state resources. Despite the differences in their identities, political forces often pursue similar policies, and pre-election disputes escalate into a battle for positions of power.

Laurynas Ragelskis, blogger (Lithuania):

"There is no nationalist party in Lithuania. There is a party that uses Russophobia as its trademark. This party is called the Homeland Union, or Conservatives. There is a party that uses the trademark of Social Democrats. There are parties that call themselves liberals; there are parties that call themselves democrats, and so on. But in reality, they are all more or less the same. Politically, they serve big business and pursue a liberal agenda ideologically. There is absolutely nothing nationally oriented or truly democratic about any of them; they are purely oligarchic parties on the leash of big business. And what is happening now, the struggle between these parties, is a pure attempt to get their hands on the budget trough."