Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania in elections in Lithuania. How Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania managed to surpass the 5 percent electoral treshold?
Political activity of Poles in Lithuania started around the same time as Lithuanian. The Union of Poles in Lithuania was established at the congress on 15‑16 April, 1989, which transformed the Socio‑Cultural Association of Poles in Lithuania, founded a year earlier – in 1988. In the first parliamentary elections in independent Lithuania, Polish minority was not very active. Looking at the public space, the internal situation in the political elite of the Polish minority in Lithuania and the development of Polish‑Lithuanian relationship as well as election results of AWPL in Lithuania have a noticeable direct relationship. The development of Polish‑Lithuanian relations after the collapse of the Soviet Union can be divided into three stages: 1st from 1990 to 1994, 2nd from 1995 to 2005 period, 3rd from about 2007 to the present time. AWPL is a regional party and its political influence is limited over the whole country. Meanwhile, the party has regionally dominant positions in two municipalities (the Vilnius region and Šalčininkai), and even in the two municipalities (Vilnius city, Trakai) is a influential party. Cooperation of AWPL with Russian parties in Lithuania started already during 1995 elections. Without support of Russian voters and other marginal parties, AWPL would probably not have been able to overcome 5 percent barier for parties in proportional system.
This study analyses the situation of ethnic minorities in Lithuania with a particular focus on a region of South-Eastern Lithuania densely populated by ethnic minorities. Based on findings, the strategy 2018-2027 for policy on ethnic minorities is developed and an implementation mechanism described. Along with the mechanism scheme, the study offers an evaluation methodology with specific progress indicators. The international law defines an ethnic minority or an ethnic community as a group living in a state, which constitutes less than a half of the state's total population and differs from the majority by objective and subjective features such as language, religion, customs, culture etc. Many states use these characteristics to distinguish ethnic minorities in their national legislation. The Constitution of Lithuania guarantees ethnic minorities' rights to cherish their language, culture and traditions. The country has signed conventions for protection of rights of ethnic minorities and integrated its international commitments to the national law. Ethnic minorities in Lithuania have an opportunity to acquire education in their native tongue from a pre-school to a higher school; laws stipulate their freedom of expression, media, assembly, and association. It sums up in a generally good situation for ethnic minorities in Lithuania. However, a part of Russian-language media in Lithuania forms a sceptical attitude towards Lithuania, there is seen a favourability and priority for Russian's official position. As well as some media outlets of ethnic minorities have no capacity to facilitate advanced training for their journalists or editors by participating in educational sessions. Notably, quality media play a role of particular importance in outbalancing hostile propaganda and misinformation in current geopolitical situation by spreading impartial information. Therefore, Lithuanian media targeting ethnic minorities should be supported by implementing media literacy and propaganda immunity initiatives. Situated around the capital city which is the economic core of the country, the South-Eastern region could be the most economically developed part of the country according to global and EU trends. Yet, the analysis of the region indicates that it fares below the country's average by indicators such as foreign direct investments, entrepreneurship, unemployment, and average wage, especially in e.g. Šalčininkai district. The region is badly in need of more active government's engagement in its development. With these aspects and challenges taken into consideration, the proposed strategy 2018–2027 for policy on ethnic minorities includes following objectives: to improve the informational environment of the ethnic minorities and reinforce their media; to improve representation of ethnic minorities' interests; to promote the social and economic development of the region of South-Eastern Lithuania; to boost South-Eastern Lithuania's competitiveness through education and culture; to strengthen community development in South-Eastern Lithuania. Implementation of each objective includes specific tasks. Importantly, objectives proposed for South-Eastern Lithuania are also suitable for other regions with numerous ethnic minority populations and for the entire country to enable well-balanced and sustainable development of all regions. The implementation thus does not need to be restricted to the South-Eastern region. The Department of Ethnic Minorities, the Ministries of Interior, Economy, Education and Science, and Culture, municipalities of Vilnius, Trakai, Šalčininkai and Švenčionys districts, NGOs, and other entities and individuals shall contribute to the implementation of the Strategy. The Strategy's objectives and tasks shall be implemented in the framework of the National Progress Programme, the Development Plan for Vilnius Region and other mid-term planning documents. The Department of Ethnic Minorities shall coordinate the implementation. If properly implemented, the aspiration of the Strategy is to make a decade-long contribution to resolving issues of regions with large ethnic minority populations and encouraging the social and economic development of these regions by ensuring ethnic minorities' better integration into the social, economic and cultural life of Lithuania and, at the same time, preserving their identities.
This study analyses the situation of ethnic minorities in Lithuania with a particular focus on a region of South-Eastern Lithuania densely populated by ethnic minorities. Based on findings, the strategy 2018-2027 for policy on ethnic minorities is developed and an implementation mechanism described. Along with the mechanism scheme, the study offers an evaluation methodology with specific progress indicators. The international law defines an ethnic minority or an ethnic community as a group living in a state, which constitutes less than a half of the state's total population and differs from the majority by objective and subjective features such as language, religion, customs, culture etc. Many states use these characteristics to distinguish ethnic minorities in their national legislation. The Constitution of Lithuania guarantees ethnic minorities' rights to cherish their language, culture and traditions. The country has signed conventions for protection of rights of ethnic minorities and integrated its international commitments to the national law. Ethnic minorities in Lithuania have an opportunity to acquire education in their native tongue from a pre-school to a higher school; laws stipulate their freedom of expression, media, assembly, and association. It sums up in a generally good situation for ethnic minorities in Lithuania. However, a part of Russian-language media in Lithuania forms a sceptical attitude towards Lithuania, there is seen a favourability and priority for Russian's official position. As well as some media outlets of ethnic minorities have no capacity to facilitate advanced training for their journalists or editors by participating in educational sessions. Notably, quality media play a role of particular importance in outbalancing hostile propaganda and misinformation in current geopolitical situation by spreading impartial information. Therefore, Lithuanian media targeting ethnic minorities should be supported by implementing media literacy and propaganda immunity initiatives. Situated around the capital city which is the economic core of the country, the South-Eastern region could be the most economically developed part of the country according to global and EU trends. Yet, the analysis of the region indicates that it fares below the country's average by indicators such as foreign direct investments, entrepreneurship, unemployment, and average wage, especially in e.g. Šalčininkai district. The region is badly in need of more active government's engagement in its development. With these aspects and challenges taken into consideration, the proposed strategy 2018–2027 for policy on ethnic minorities includes following objectives: to improve the informational environment of the ethnic minorities and reinforce their media; to improve representation of ethnic minorities' interests; to promote the social and economic development of the region of South-Eastern Lithuania; to boost South-Eastern Lithuania's competitiveness through education and culture; to strengthen community development in South-Eastern Lithuania. Implementation of each objective includes specific tasks. Importantly, objectives proposed for South-Eastern Lithuania are also suitable for other regions with numerous ethnic minority populations and for the entire country to enable well-balanced and sustainable development of all regions. The implementation thus does not need to be restricted to the South-Eastern region. The Department of Ethnic Minorities, the Ministries of Interior, Economy, Education and Science, and Culture, municipalities of Vilnius, Trakai, Šalčininkai and Švenčionys districts, NGOs, and other entities and individuals shall contribute to the implementation of the Strategy. The Strategy's objectives and tasks shall be implemented in the framework of the National Progress Programme, the Development Plan for Vilnius Region and other mid-term planning documents. The Department of Ethnic Minorities shall coordinate the implementation. If properly implemented, the aspiration of the Strategy is to make a decade-long contribution to resolving issues of regions with large ethnic minority populations and encouraging the social and economic development of these regions by ensuring ethnic minorities' better integration into the social, economic and cultural life of Lithuania and, at the same time, preserving their identities.
