The Representation of Lithuania’s National Minorities in the European Parliament: Just Poles?

Abstract

The article analyzes the capacities and channels of Lithuania's minority representation in the European Parliament. Possible minority representation can potentially be achieved through representation of minorities in the electoral lists of Lithuania's mainstream parties or by self-organization around minority coalition led by the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania – Christian Families Alliance (EAPL-CFA). However, these two channels demonstrate two different outcomes. First, the article discusses the role of minority representatives in the mainstream parties focusing on the cases of Viktor Uspaskich and Leonidas Donskis. It is followed by the analysis of the electoral performances of the EAPL-CFA with the emphasis on the party’s general political capacities, abilities to keep its current and attract the new electorate, and the leadership issues taking into account personalistic factors and a series of scandals that happened in 2018 and involved the leadership of the Union of Poles in Lithuania.