LLRA-KŠS politicians take opposition posts in Vilnius district council

Politicians linked to the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania–Christian Families Alliance (LLRA-KŠS) took all posts reserved for the opposition in the Vilnius district municipal council on Friday, LRT reported. Renata Sobieska, leader of the newly formed Stop Corruption faction, was named opposition leader.

The council changed the membership of its Control Committee and Anti-Corruption and Ethics commissions at the initiative of Stop Corruption, which has declared itself an opposition faction. Under Lithuania’s Local Self-Government Law, the posts must be held by opposition members.

The decisions were passed with votes from the LLRA-KŠS faction and Stop Corruption. LLRA-KŠS leader and European Parliament member Waldemar Tomaszewski watched the proceedings.

After the votes, Social Democrat Martynas Motuzas said it appeared that one-party rule had returned to the council, with all committees, including those intended for the opposition, belonging to the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania and an offshoot. He added that the elections would show what happens next.

The 31-member council includes nine LLRA-KŠS members, nine Stop Corruption members, seven Social Democrats and six members of a centre-right coalition comprising the Freedom Party, the Liberal Movement and the Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats.