Kasčiūnas cleared of ethics breach over far right linked phrase

Lithuanian Conservative leader Laurynas Kasčiūnas did not breach the politicians’ code of conduct by using the phrase “Good night left side” in a Facebook post, LRT reported. The parliamentary Ethics and Procedures Commission reached the decision on Wednesday, with five members voting in favour, two against and three abstaining.

“Having assessed all the material, we believe that there was no breach of the provisions of the Code of Conduct for State Politicians in this case,” said Domas Griškevičius, a Democratic Party lawmaker and first deputy speaker of parliament, who helped prepare the commission’s findings.

The commission nevertheless recommended that politicians avoid ambiguous and open-to-interpretation statements.

Social Democrat Audrius Radvilavičius, a member of the commission, disagreed with the decision. He said the phrase was not neutral and had recognisable links to far-right subculture, where it is used alongside violent symbolism directed at political opponents.

“Political left-wing ideas, communism or any other ideology can be strongly criticised, but there is no need to use the symbols of radical subcultures to do so,” Radvilavičius said.

The investigation followed a complaint by Laurynas Šedvydis, chairman of the parliamentary Human Rights Committee. He argued that using the slogan could be understood as normalising far-right symbolism and bringing it into mainstream politics.

The commission found that “Good Night Left Side” has a recognisable far-right subcultural meaning. Its assessment referred to material from German authorities and a UEFA guide on discriminatory practices, which says the symbol openly encourages neo-Nazi violence against political opponents.

Kasčiūnas told BNS that the phrase should be understood literally, as meaning that “you should not turn left, but turn right”. In his explanation to the commission, he said he had used it to express opposition to far-left ideas and communist ideology.

The phrase appeared on a flag displayed on May 31 at Darius and Girėnas Stadium in Kaunas, in the “Pietų IV” stand used by supporters of Vilnius football club Žalgiris. The flag also carried the Polish phrase “Nigdy w Lewo”, meaning “Never to the left”, and the logo of Suwałki club Wigry.

After Žalgiris defeated hosts Kauno Žalgiris 1-0, Kasčiūnas shared a photograph of himself holding a “Pietų IV” scarf. The phrase was included alongside the photograph.

Although the commission acknowledged the slogan’s association with the far right, it said there was insufficient evidence to prove that Kasčiūnas intended to normalise violence or hatred.