Lithuanian parliament launches ethics probe into Kasčiūnas over social media post

The Lithuanian parliament’s Ethics and Procedure Commission has opened an investigation into a social media post by Laurynas Kasčiūnas, leader of the Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD), following a complaint by a fellow lawmaker, LRT reports.

The probe centres on a post in which Kasčiūnas shared a photo with the caption “Good Night Left Side!”—a phrase Social Democrat MP Laurynas Šedvydas argues is linked to far-right extremism. In his complaint, Šedvydas stated the slogan is a distorted version of the anti-racist chant “Good Night White Pride,” repurposed to target antifascists, anti-racists, and the political left.

Šedvydas emphasised that such rhetoric is often used in far-right online spaces to normalise or incite violence against ideological opponents. He stressed that Kasčiūnas, as a public figure—Seimas member, former defence minister, and party leader—should be held to higher standards of conduct.

“A state politician must uphold stricter standards of responsibility, decency, and integrity,” Šedvydas wrote. “Public use of a slogan associated with the far right risks normalising extremist symbolism and demonising political opponents, undermining trust in the Seimas and its members.”

Kasčiūnas has dismissed the criticism, telling ELTA he sees nothing wrong with the post. “I represent the political right. Saying ‘don’t turn left’ seems perfectly normal to me,” he said, adding that interpretations of the phrase are not his concern.

The Ethics Commission voted 7–0 to initiate the investigation, tasking commission members Domas Griškevičius and Daiva Žebelienė with preparing findings.