Lithuanian political controversy: party leadership race, plagiarism claim and anti‑Semitic conviction

In Lithuania, internal disputes within the Democratic Union "For Lithuania" (Vardan Lietuvos) have revived as the party prepares to elect a new chairman. At the same time, the prime minister's recent dissertation has been accused of plagiarism, prompting public debate over academic integrity.

Separately, a member of parliament was sentenced by the Court of Appeal for making anti‑Semitic statements. The convicted lawmaker rejected the verdict, saying the case is politicised, and announced plans to appeal to the Supreme Court. The parliament's Ethics and Procedure Committee chair highlighted concerns about hate speech and the Holocaust, while questioning whether the member will retain sufficient support to keep his seat.