TO VAX OR NOT TO VAX: In the German debate about how to best nudge those who remain stubbornly unvaccinated toward getting jabbed, there’s disharmony across the political tribes and the federal and state levels, but also within parties. Armin Laschet, the CDU’s candidate for chancellor in the September election, said those who test negative for the coronavirus, have recovered from COVID or are vaccinated ought to be exempt from restrictions. He told ZDF in an interview that aired Sunday evening: “I don’t believe in mandatory vaccination, and I don’t believe in putting indirect pressure on people to get vaccinated.”
Planned rally against genderist propaganda electrifies Lithuania
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Anti-lockdown rally in Vilnius / D. Umbrasas/LRT
A rallying cry to defend traditional values, the Big Family Defence March (Didysis šeimos gynimo maršas) has been dividing opinions in Lithuania.
What is it about?
The event is presented as a political rally in protest of policies and legislation that allegedly threaten the institution of traditional family.
The march is planned for the coming Saturday, May 15, in Vingio Park in Vilnius.
What are the demands?
The event s website claims it is a rally against “aggressive genderist propaganda” and plans to ratify the Istanbul Convention, a Council of Europe s document aimed at fighting violence against women.
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Lithuanian MP Guoga relieved of his seat in Seimas
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Antanas Guoga / D. Umbrasas/LRT
The Lithuanian Central Electoral Commission on Friday cancelled the mandate of Antanas Guoga, an MP elected with the Labour Party s list, and awarded the seat in the Seimas to Artūras Skardžius.
Guoga submitted his resignation from parliament back in January, but the election commission refused to grant it, because he failed to show up at the meeting in person, as required by law.
The commission s decision will take effect on Saturday.
The MP, who ran for parliament with the Lithuanian Labour Party, said he was resigning because he saw no possibilities to deliver on his election promises.
Lithuanian Labour Party quits EP’s liberal group after leader’s homophobic rant
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Viktor Uspaskich / D. Umbrasas/LRT
On Monday, the Lithuanian Labour Party decided to quit the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE).
This comes following the expulsion of party leader MEP Viktor Uspaskich from the Renew Europe group at the European Parliament due to his homophobic comments. It was a fairly clear sign that we [the Labour Party] are not welcome together with the party leader, MP Ieva Kačinskaitė-Urbonienė, representing the Labour Party, told BNS, adding that it s not the end .
She said the party may join another group at the European Parliament or rejoin the liberal alliance.