Debate intensifies over renaming Suvalkija to Sūduva as mayors lack consensus

A proposal in the Seimas to rename Lithuania’s Suvalkija region as Sūduva has sparked debate, with local mayors divided and residents expressing resistance to the change, LRT reports.

The push to amend the Law on the Fundamentals of State Protection of Ethnic Culture comes from the Sūduva Regional Council for the Protection of Ethnic Culture. Its chairman, Andrius Milinkevičius, argues that Sūduva is the historical name of the region and its people, stating that efforts to restore the name have been ongoing for years.

However, many local residents in Marijampolė oppose the change. One woman told LRT, “I am a Suvalkietė. Sūduva seems like a passing phase—Suvalkija was, is, and will remain.” Another resident simply stated, “Suvalkija is the usual term; it’s been Suvalkija for many years.”

Marijampolė’s mayor supports the rename, noting that the name Sūduva is already used in local sports and arts groups but acknowledges the need for more public education on the region’s history. Meanwhile, Kazlų Rūda municipality conducted a survey on the issue, with only one-tenth of 800 respondents supporting the switch to Sūduva.

Kazlų Rūda’s mayor, Mantas Varaška, calls the initiative in the Seimas “pointless,” arguing that Suvalkija is already deeply rooted in local identity. “People identify as Suvalkietis, speak the Suvalkija dialect—this is part of our community’s identity. Suvalkija is history,” he said. Varaška also questioned the historical justification, stating that the name Suvalkija was widely used in interwar Lithuania and that the proposal adds unnecessary work in the Seimas without tangible results.

Kalvarija’s mayor, Nerijus Šidlauskas, expressed skepticism about the practical benefits of the change. “What’s the principle here? Will it improve people’s lives? Will it make things easier for institutions that currently use the name Suvalkija? If we make this decision, we need to consider all consequences, not just whether it sounds good or not,” he said. Šidlauskas also criticised the lack of consultation with experts, such as ethnographers, historians, and bibliographers.

Milinkevičius countered that the proposal does not seek to erase the name Suvalkija or the identity of its people. “No one is attacking the name Suvalkija or the term Suvalkietis. Everyone can identify as they wish. Sūduviai are the historical inhabitants of this land, and we are their descendants,” he said. He added that even the Speaker of the Seimas has embraced the Sūduva identity.

The State Commission of the Lithuanian Language has previously opposed the change, stating that Suvalkija and Sūduva do not align chronologically or geographically.