Vytautas Šustauskas
Encyclopedia
Vytautas Šustauskas is an often controversial Lithuania
n politician, leader of the Lithuanian Freedom Union (Lietuvos Laisvės Sąjunga) political party.
Šustauskas first gained popularity by defending the rights of the poorest Lithuanians. When the high-society organised the first Vienna ball in the Vilnius City Hall, he organised a party for the poor people in the square just outside the building. The Vienna ball did not take place the following year, which many people regarded as a victory for Šustauskas, as the idea became unpopular among members of high society.
These events raised the popularty of the Lithuanian Freedom Union, as many poorer people already saw high society as a den for corrupt thieves; the ideology which was propagated during communism
, and was supported by several scandals in the 90s. The fact that Šustauskas sold his car and invested much of his own funds into these parties for poor people also helped his popularity. However, his and Freedom Union's popularity distribution over Lithuania was very uneven: it was most popular in Šustauskas's hometown Kaunas
, but was lacking elsewhere in the country.
The Lithuanian Freedom Union gained a majority in Kaunas city municipality council, and Šustauskas became mayor
of Kaunas
. Later he was elected to the parliament of one of the electoral districts of Kaunas city. After this his popularity dwindled, as little was achieved, and there were several scandals concerning one member of his party, Enrikas Daktaras, son of Henrikas Daktaras (godfather of local mafia). Enrikas Daktaras was supposedly close to Šustauskas himself and was arrested for drug smuggling. Šustauskas also allegedly had problems with alcohol. He was not elected to parliament in 2004 elections and the Lithuanian Freedom Union lost the influence in Kaunas which it had held previously.
Vytautas Šustauskas is also known to have made several controversial statements, which caused him to be considered a Nazi
by some; however he stated himself to be leftist. Although these quotes were said during heated television discussions, they attributed to the demise of politician, both by lowering his ratings and also causing an impeachment process to be initiated against him in parliament. The offending quotes were:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtEqMpB6uwY&feature=fvst
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n politician, leader of the Lithuanian Freedom Union (Lietuvos Laisvės Sąjunga) political party.
Šustauskas first gained popularity by defending the rights of the poorest Lithuanians. When the high-society organised the first Vienna ball in the Vilnius City Hall, he organised a party for the poor people in the square just outside the building. The Vienna ball did not take place the following year, which many people regarded as a victory for Šustauskas, as the idea became unpopular among members of high society.
These events raised the popularty of the Lithuanian Freedom Union, as many poorer people already saw high society as a den for corrupt thieves; the ideology which was propagated during communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
, and was supported by several scandals in the 90s. The fact that Šustauskas sold his car and invested much of his own funds into these parties for poor people also helped his popularity. However, his and Freedom Union's popularity distribution over Lithuania was very uneven: it was most popular in Šustauskas's hometown Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
, but was lacking elsewhere in the country.
The Lithuanian Freedom Union gained a majority in Kaunas city municipality council, and Šustauskas became mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
. Later he was elected to the parliament of one of the electoral districts of Kaunas city. After this his popularity dwindled, as little was achieved, and there were several scandals concerning one member of his party, Enrikas Daktaras, son of Henrikas Daktaras (godfather of local mafia). Enrikas Daktaras was supposedly close to Šustauskas himself and was arrested for drug smuggling. Šustauskas also allegedly had problems with alcohol. He was not elected to parliament in 2004 elections and the Lithuanian Freedom Union lost the influence in Kaunas which it had held previously.
Vytautas Šustauskas is also known to have made several controversial statements, which caused him to be considered a Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
by some; however he stated himself to be leftist. Although these quotes were said during heated television discussions, they attributed to the demise of politician, both by lowering his ratings and also causing an impeachment process to be initiated against him in parliament. The offending quotes were:
- There will not be order until we'll march through the parliament with Kalashnikovs
- If Hitler wouldn't have killed the Jews, I'd now have to shine their shoes in the middle of Freedom Avenue
External links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_TosLga7ZUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtEqMpB6uwY&feature=fvst