Conservatives to seek universal mandatory conscription in Lithuania

The Homeland Union Lithuanian Christian Democrats will launch a political process to introduce universal mandatory conscription in Lithuania, party leader Laurynas Kasčiūnas said at the party congress on Saturday, LRT reported.

The congress is expected to approve the party’s programme for next year’s municipal elections. Kasčiūnas and former party leader Andrius Kubilius also criticised the ruling Social Democrats in their speeches.

“Our first priority is and will remain Lithuania’s security and defence,” Kasčiūnas said, citing the military threat from Russia and the need for universal defence as the foundation of defence policy.

“That is why we clearly say that Lithuania needs universal mandatory conscription. The Homeland Union Lithuanian Christian Democrats will soon initiate a political process for its introduction,” he said.

A poll commissioned by the Universal Defence association and presented last week found that almost 80 percent of Lithuania’s residents supported introducing universal conscription. Representatives of the military, however, have said that the current number of conscripts is sufficient.

Kasčiūnas also called for greater attention to defence innovation and the speed at which new technologies are adopted by the military. He said Lithuania needed to calculate the capabilities required to fully protect its airspace, determine the cost and prepare a concrete plan for achieving that goal.

He said the party would also seek greater attention to social, nursing and healthcare services. Kasčiūnas said the Homeland Union Lithuanian Christian Democrats was the country’s most trusted party according to polls and suggested it aimed to form a majority in the next Seimas, Lithuania’s parliament.

“They are only administering everyday affairs, promoting their own people and do not intend to undertake any more serious reforms,” Kasčiūnas said of the ruling Social Democrats.

He added that the party would form a shadow government after the elections in March 2027.

Speaking at the congress, Kubilius, a former party leader, prime minister and European Commission member, also criticised the Social Democratic Party. He said he had previously consulted with Social Democratic leader Gediminas Kirkilas, but that such cooperation was now lacking.

“Today, I would identify the lack of big ideas and major undertakings as one of the most important problems in Lithuanian political life. To be honest, I still do not know what today’s Social Democratic government is about, what major undertakings and major ideas are its key priorities,” Kubilius said.