Remigijus Žemaitaitis (born 30 May 1982) is a Lithuanian politician and member of the Seimas.

Biography

Žemaitaitis was born on 30 May 1982 in Šilutė.[1] In 2005, he graduated from the Faculty of Law at the Vilnius University. Until 2007 he worked as a lawyer and assistant at courts. Between 2007 and 2009 he worked as an assistant to the mayor of Vilnius and, later, a member of the European Parliament Juozas Imbrasas and former President of Lithuania Rolandas Paksas.

A member of the Order and Justice party, Žemaitaitis was elected to the Tenth Seimas in 2009, in the by-election in the single-seat constituency of Šilutė-Šilalė.[2] He was reelected to the Eleventh Seimas in 2012. He was elected the chairman of the Economics Committee at the parliament.[3]

In elections in 2016, Žemaitaitis headed the electoral list of Order and Justice.[4] After these elections, party's leader Rolandas Paksas resigned. Žemaitaitis became the interim leader of the party.

In 2018, the party suffered splits and its support declined. After 2019 presidential election, the Order and Justice joined the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union-led government. According coalition's agreement, Žemaitaitis became the Deputy Speaker of Seimas. Two months later, the Order and Justice parliamentary group dissolved itself and Žemaitaitis became unaffiliated member of Seimas. In November, 2019, Žemaitaitis was removed from the Deputy Speaker's position after vote of no confidence.

In 2020, the Lithuanian Freedom Union (Liberals), the Order and Justice and the movement "Forward, Lithuania" merged into party the Freedom and Justice. Žemaitaitis was elected its leader.

Controversies

In May 2023, Žemaitaitis released public antisemitic comments on Facebook. The comments were received with harsh criticism and condemnation from Lithuanian politicians, Lithuanian Jewish community and numerous ambassadors to Lithuania. The office of the Prosecutor General has launched an ongoing investigation to Žemaitaitis' actions.[5] On 19 May 2023 Freedom and Justice terminated Žemaitaitis membership in party due to his racist statements.[6]

In response, he founded the party Dawn of Nemunas (Nemuno aušra).[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Member of the Seimas". Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  2. ↑ "Išankstiniai duomenys: Į Seimą išrinktas R.Pakso bendražygis R.Žemaitaitis". TV3.lt. 29 November 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  3. ↑ ""Tvarkietis" Remigijus Žemaitaitis vadovaus Seimo Ekonomikos komitetui". 15min.lt. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  4. ↑ ""Tvarkiečius" į rinkimus ves Remigijus Žemaitaitis". Vakarų Ekspresas. BNS. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  5. ↑ Canaan, Lidor. "Lithuanian lawmaker in hot water after quoting song urging kids to kill Jews". Times of Israel.
  6. ↑ „Laisvė ir teisingumas“ stabdo Žemaitaičio narystę partijoje
  7. ↑ "R.Žemaitaitis patvirtintas naujai įkurtos partijos „Nemuno aušra" pirmininku". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). 11 November 2023.


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