DISINFO: Lithuanian government does not do any good for Lithuanians
SUMMARY
If the International Monetary Fund (IMF) praises Lithuania it means that Lithuanian government does not do any good for Lithuanians. Social policy does not represent a priority, while financial support to the citizens is considered to be a populistic step.
When Homeland Union, Lithuanian Christians Democrats, was in power last time, the economic policy was conservative and very painful for people. IMF also praised them at that time.
Lithuanian Conservatives have not changed their policy. It is demonstrated by the situation with the employees of sanatorium “Belarus” in Druskininkai, when 350 citizens of Lithuanians lost their jobs as a result of sanctions against Lukashenka. In the future, similar things could happen with tens of thousands of Klaipeda’s harbour and “Lithuanian Railways” workers, when due to conflict and sanctions Belarusian cargo ships will avoid Lithuania.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Lithuania.
The narrative represents demonisation of International Monetary Fund (IMF), attempt to discredit Lithuanian Conservatives (Homeland Union) and Lithuanian foreign policy. Lithuania is presented as an economically weak state, which does not take care of its own people.
International Monetary Fund positively evaluated Lithuanian progress in controlling the economic situation in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. IMF also provided some further recommendations for the state (see "Republic of Lithuania: Staff Concluding Statement of an IMF Staff Visit").
The accusation against Homeland Union, Lithuanian Christians Democrats, of implementing “painful economic policy” is presented without context. During the previous period (2008-2012), when Lithuanian Conservatives were in power, they had to manage the consequences of the global financial crisis. The implemented austerity policy was painful for some categories of people but delivered fast results of a remarkable recovery of the economy.
Nowadays situation with sanatorium “Belarus” is linked to EU sanctions against the regime of Aleksandr Lukashenka. Sanatorium in Lithuanian resort Druskininkai belongs to the government of Belarus and today is the object of the sanctions. The Lithuanian government is looking for ways to support people who were left without their workplaces in the sanatorium.
The loss of cargo from Belarus could affect the Lithuanian economy but the potential consequences of it will not be so catastrophic as presented in the narrative. In 2019, the trade with Belarus formed only 3.9 per cent of Lithuanian exports, imports from Belarus were 2.5 per cent.
See similar cases of pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives claiming that Minsk will punish Lithuania economically for its support to the Belarusian opposition, affirming that Lithuania (and other Baltic states) live mainly at the expense of the EU budget or just attacking party of Lithuanian Conservatives.