Kasčiūnas proposes universal conscription from 2030

Laurynas Kasčiūnas, leader of Lithuania’s Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats, says the party would propose introducing universal mandatory military service in 2030, LRT reported.

Speaking at the party’s congress on Saturday, Kasčiūnas said the Conservatives would initiate a vote on introducing mandatory military service. He called the period until 2030 an adequate time for preparation.

Kasčiūnas acknowledged that the proposal had not been coordinated with the governing Social Democrats, who, he said, tended to support a professional army.

“We have talked about the principle of universal defence, of which universal conscription is a component. Universal defence is vital for states such as Lithuania,” Kasčiūnas said. He added that military service was the best way to encourage people to defend their country, citing sociological research showing that those who had served were more likely to develop that willingness.

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

Kasčiūnas also discussed the municipal elections scheduled for spring but did not say who the party’s candidates would be in Vilnius and Klaipėda.

The party’s decision to nominate businessman and public figure Šarūnas Jasiukevičius, a former member of the National Union, as its candidate for Kaunas mayor has been criticised by former party leader Gabrielius Landsbergis. He said the move could polarise society and the party and signal a shift by the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats towards the far right.

Kasčiūnas described Jasiukevičius as a well-known public figure and activist who has supported Ukraine in its war with Russia. He said Jasiukevičius won 70 percent of the vote in the party’s open primary in Kaunas, which was contested by five candidates.

“Party members and the Kaunas community came and said whom they wanted to see as the candidate in Kaunas. I believe he deserves to be a serious rival to the current mayor,” Kasčiūnas said.