Sociologist on Blinkevičiūtė’s decision: it won’t be that simple

As the sociologist noted, the peak of popularity of V. Blinkevičiūtė was around 2004.

“He was popular somewhere around 2004. Then he ran for president after Paks’ impeachment – he raised more for Juršėnas, but less than Prunskienė, Auštrevičius. Those years, perhaps a little earlier, had a peak in popularity. “It was one of the most popular,” recalled V. Gaidys.

The advantages are the nature of politics and withdrawal from political struggles.

According to him, V. Blinkevičiūtė has natural qualities that guarantee good grades.

“Not everyone has, and she has something, she has such a social democratic image, she has empathy. You will not say that she does not love people, (…) she has qualities that are important for social democrats and this public,” said the sociologist.

V. Gaidys named his withdrawal from party intrigues and infighting as another advantage of V. Blinkevičiūtė.

“While he was in Brussels, there were all kinds of cuts among them, especially among the Social Democrats. She was not present, watching from afar. I don’t even know where he was during that decline and where he stayed, but maybe it doesn’t matter: Vilija Blinkevičiūtė stayed, who is very far away, he seems from Olympus to dwarf fights. I think he managed to distance himself, ”said the head of Vilmorus.

This, she said, could have helped her maintain a fairly neutral stance and a good distance from internal political struggles.

“There are also objective circumstances, there is a leadership crisis among the Social Democrats,” emphasized V. Gaidys at the same time.

“Not destined for success”

However, the sociologist pointed out that it may be more difficult for V. Blinkevičiūtė to mobilize a young electorate and persuade younger colleagues.

“There are young people who were not born when it was popular. What was 16 years ago is neither remembered nor seen nor seen. It is also a question how much others have not forgotten ”, he considered.

According to V. Gaidis, V. Blinkevičiūtė’s relationships with participants in the political arena also raise doubts.

“What I want is small, but a politician is a coordinator of interests, he has to have connections in business, with decision makers. It is not clear if it has any weight, “said the sociologist.

V. Gaidys also drew attention to current problems.

“Do you know the language of the present, how people speak on television, how they speak, or did they not forget the way they spoke about these issues? You read them, but there are things between the lines,” said the head of Vilmorus.

According to the sociologist, it is also important whether he will be accepted as a potential leader by the party’s elite.

“Anyway, this step to run for party chairmen is not stupid or naive, but it is not surprisingly effective. She is not doomed to success. People are doomed to success: they passed it at a good time, at a good time. place and history took her somewhere. She is not doomed to success right now, she will have to fight. Whether she wants to fight is a question, “added V. Gaidys.

Participation in the presidential elections has so far been confirmed by three party members.

On Friday, V. Blinkevičiūtė confirmed during an interview with the 15min.lt portal that he would participate in the election of the president of the LSDP.

He said that there would indeed be a “celebration of democracy” in the Socdems, contrary to what the politician pointed out to the conservatives.

“It just came to our notice then. I say this forcefully: V. Blinkevičiūtė will participate in the elections of the chairman of the Social Democratic Party of the Republic of Lithuania. I made this decision because I am convinced that there must be a normal European democratic left party in Lithuania, wherever there is, ”said V. Blinkevičiūtė for 15 minutes.

A newcomer to the Facebook network, associate professor at the Vilnius University Institute of International Relations and Political Science (VU TSPMI), also announced on Monday night that he was nominated in the presidential election for discussion.

“The upcoming elections of the chairman of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party provide an opportunity for all party members to jointly assess in which direction we will continue. The party needs a debate. And this debate cannot end among those elected by the Council. I want it not to. miss out on this rare opportunity, which is why I am running, ”wrote L. Gudzinskas.

Several other candidates are proposed for party chairmen: Orinta Leiputė, Mindaugas Sinkevičius and Juozas Olekas MEP, who has already confirmed their participation.

The nomination of candidates for the presidency of the Social Democratic Party is scheduled for March 28.

At the end of January, Gintautas Paluckas announced his resignation from the post of president of the LSDP after criticism from the parties. The party council then elected the mayor of Jonava M. Sinkevičius as interim president.

M. Sinkevičius will lead the Social Democrats until the May 29 congress, during which the newly elected party president will be confirmed. He himself said that he did not intend to stand for election as party president.

The president of the LSDP will be elected directly by the party members, the first round of elections is scheduled for April 22 and 25. The party president is elected for a two-year term.