VILNIUS: Lithuania's new centre-left government was sworn in on Thursday after parliament approved its programme focused on social policy, aid for Ukraine and defence against neighbouring Russia.
The government of the Baltic EU and Nato nation comprises three parties, including Nemunas Dawn, whose leader is on trial for alleged anti-Semitic remarks.
The programme pledges to support Ukraine "before and after victory" and to assist Kyiv in "accelerating its EU and Nato membership."
It also commits to allocating 0.25 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) annually in military support for Ukraine.
Lithuania is already one of the top donors to Ukraine relative to its economic size.
The government has also vowed to raise the defence budget to at least 3.5 per cent of GDP.
The government, which will be led by Social Democrat Gintautas Paluckas, 45, comes after the centre-left's victory in October elections.
Paluckas said on Thursday that government members are already planning to visit Ukraine, adding: "We need to show communion, solidarity and friendship."
The government programme promises measures to increase citizens' incomes, strengthen public health and education systems, and limit the role of private entities in these sectors.
The opposition voted against the programme, saying there would be no public finances to back up generous pledges.
President Gitanas Nauseda had pledged to closely examine Nemunas Dawn's candidates for the government and prevented party members from getting ministerial positions.
Under the coalition agreement, Nemunas Dawn controls the agriculture, environment and justice ministries, but the president rejected two of the party's initial candidates and replacements were appointed earlier this week.
The government also includes Social Democrat lawmaker Dovile Sakaliene as defence minister and Kestutis Budrys — Nauseda's chief national security adviser — as foreign minister. Nemunas Dawn leader Remigijus Zemaitaitis is on trial for alleged incitement to hatred after quoting an anti-Semitic rhyme about killing Jews while criticising Israeli actions in the occupied West Bank.
Zemaitaitis has also faced criticism for remarks perceived as downplaying the Holocaust, during which Nazi Germany's occupation of Lithuania led to the near-total destruction of its Jewish community. — AFP
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