Legal immigration is Lithuania’s biggest challenge, says Sinica
Saturday 27th June 2026 on 10:00 in
Lithuania
Legal immigration poses the greatest threat to Lithuania, according to Vytautas Sinica, leader of the National Union party, as reported by LRT.
Sinica, a vocal critic of immigration, acknowledges concerns that his party could become a single-issue movement but argues its primary achievement is sparking broader public debate on immigration’s impact on the state.
“I fear this and always strive for balance, to address other issues too. But in principle, today all politicians and parties in Lithuania should first consider the interests and prospects of the state’s survival,” he told ELTA.
He identifies two existential threats to Lithuania: Russia, widely recognized as a danger, and demographic decline. The latter has two aspects—low birth rates and immigration. Sinica warns that unchecked immigration could eventually replace the native population with foreigners from different cultures, yet this issue receives far less attention than the Russian threat.
“The National Union has already done Lithuania a great service by making this a significant public issue,” he said.
Sinica emphasizes that legal immigration, not illegal migration, is the primary concern. Lithuania has faced minimal illegal migration, with only a few thousand arrivals in 2021 before stricter controls were introduced. However, he highlights that around 160,000 additional foreigners entered Lithuania during Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė’s term, a scale he argues is transforming society, security perceptions, and cultural tensions—particularly in major cities.
While current numbers remain manageable, Sinica warns that continuing this trend for another term could lead to irreversible changes. He advocates for immediate action to halt further growth, noting that legal immigration can be reduced by simply not renewing residence permits.
Addressing labor quotas, Sinica points out that this year’s quota of 24,000 work permits was exceeded, with 27,000 issued, indicating that the system is not effectively limiting immigration.