During a press conference on Thursday, the president stated that articulating one’s perspectives is valuable, noting, “having views is always better than not having them,” despite acknowledging that these views may resonate differently with various groups. The comments came against a backdrop of political tension, as the opposition Freedom Party held a protest outside the Presidential Palace regarding the recent appointment of M. Katelynas as a minister.
Katelynas has faced significant criticism, particularly for making comparisons between Lithuanian officials and the Belarusian “OMON” unit, as well as for advocating the use of “deadly means” in relation to migrants. Despite the visible protest, the president downplayed the demonstration’s significance. He suggested that the underlying issue was more systemic than merely focusing on Katelynas’s appointment.
When addressing the protest itself, the president remarked, “We are used to protests. The Freedom Party sometimes gave us pizzas, sometimes protests,” indicating a perceived pattern of political engagement. The discussion surrounding M.
Katelynas’s qualifications and the controversies surrounding his public statements remains a focal point for political debate. While the opposition focuses on his specific views, the president implied that the concerns raised by Katelynas are symptomatic of broader governance issues, rather than being isolated to one candidate or one policy area.
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