If we separate national security from human rights, we will invite Orbanism, says A. Armonaitė

This is how she commented when the party led by her did not support Laurynas Kasčiūnas, the candidate for the post of Minister of National Defense submitted by Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė.

“If we separate national security from human rights, we will call ourselves orbanism In Lithuania. I wouldn’t want that,” A. Armonaitė told the LRT show “Dienos Tema” on Friday.

According to her, although the Freedom Party does not have political leverage in appointing a minister, the party felt obliged to say that it is distancing itself from the candidacy of L. Kasčiūnas “due to political views and value issues”.

“Sometimes I hear, they say, but look, after all, national security is not related to human rights. I categorically want to disagree with that, because national security is primarily the defense of values, Western human rights, values ​​based on human rights,” said the minister.

“These are not empty words, because we see that in Ukraine. Because Ukraine does not only defend the territory, it defends the entire common European civilization, which is also formed from human rights decisions,” she asserted.

However, A. Armonaitė said that this does not mean that if L. Kasčiūnas is appointed as a minister, the Freedom Party “will not blindly support” his proposed projects.

“Joint works can be found and we will find them,” said A. Armonaitė.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister I. Šimonytė officially submitted to President Gitanas Nausėdas the candidacy of NSGK chairman L. Kasčiūnas for the position of Minister of National Defense, when the current minister Arvydas Anušauskas resigned at the request of the Head of the Government.

President G. Nausėda confirmed on Friday that he had received information from the services about L. Kasčiūnas, and would evaluate it further.

Non-governmental members criticize L. Kasčiūnas for his strict migration policy and his stance on issues related to human rights. They also recall the invitation sent in 2018 to German far-right politicians to come to Lithuania. L. Kasčiūnas interpreted it as a mistake.

At that time, more than 20 organizations gathering various support for Ukraine expressed their support for the politician.

The Prime Minister previously indicated that it would be logical for A. Anušauskas and L. Kasčiūnas to exchange positions, but A. Anušauskas, who is ending his career as a minister, says that he does not see himself in the position of head of the Seimas NSGK.

When such a situation arises, the Freedom Party claims that it would take the leadership of the Seimas NSGK if the ruling party decides to redistribute the quotas.