The Way of Courage
Drąsos kelias
LeaderJonas Varkala
Founded2012
HeadquartersGarliava, Vytauto g. 57-2
Membership (March 2017)2,499[1]
IdeologyPopulism[2]
Anti-corruption[3][4]
Seimas
0 / 141
Seats in the European Parliament
0 / 12
Website
http://www.drasoskeliaspartija.lt/

The Way of Courage (Lithuanian: Drąsos Kelias) is a populist[2] political party in Lithuania. It was founded in 2012 and has an anti-corruption[3][4] platform.

History

The party was established by supporters of Drąsius Kedys, who claimed that justice officials had whitewashed a ring of pedophiles after his daughter had been sexually molested. Kedys died under unclear circumstances in 2010. Among the party's founders is Neringa Venckienė, sister of Drąsius Kedys and former judge.

The party's name alludes to Kedys' first name Drąsius which means "the brave".[5] The goals include changes in the justice system, e.g. the establishment of trial by jury. In 2012 parliamentary election the party gained approximately 8% of the popular vote. The party had its best performance in Kaunas and Kaunas District Municipality.

After the party's leader Neringa Venckiene applied for asylum in the United States, many party members decided not to participate in the future elections because of the "exile" of their leader.[6]

The party's chairman is Jonas Varkala, a former Catholic priest, who officially left the church in February 2012. He was a constant critic of the ethics of the leaders of the church, particularly in regards to sexual abuse of children.[7]

In 2014 with impeachment of Neringa Venckienė and Valdas Vasiliauskas moving to the Order and Justice parliamentary group, the party's parliamentary group was dissolved as it had less than 7 members.[8]

In 2016 the party won just over 1 per cent of the votes and lost all representatives in parliament.

Member of Seimas (2012–2016)

  • Neringa Venckiene (born 1971), (MP until 2014, Impeached), Judge
  • Jonas Varkala (born 1951), Priest
  • Aurelija Stancikienė (born 1966), Architect
  • Algirdas Vaclovas Patackas (born 1943), (MP until 2015, Died), Signer of the Lithuanian Declaration of Independence
  • Dr. Vytautas Antanas Matulevičius (born 1952), Journalist
  • Prof. Povilas Gylys (born 1948), Economist
  • Valdas Vasiliauskas (born 1951), Journalist[9]
  • Prof. dr. Gintaras Aleknonis (born 1961), (refused to be sworn in), Journalist.
  • Prof. Stasys Brundza (born 1947), (MP from 2014), Economist
  • Audrius Nakas (born 1967), (MP from 2015), Actor

Political ideology

The party is considered populist. It contained a mix of political beliefs. Jonas Varkala and Algirdas Patackas were the conservative members of the party, whhile Vytautas Matulevičius was a liberal and one of the first Lithuanian politicians to support same-sex partnerships.[10] Povilas Gylys was a former member of the Social Democratic Party and a former member of the Communist Party of Lithuania.

Election results

Seimas

Election Votes[lower-alpha 1]  % Seats +/– Government
2012 109,448 8.34 (#5)
8 / 141
 Increase 8 External support[11]
2016 3,498 0.29 (#14)
0 / 141
 Decrease 0 Opposition
2020 13,337 1.18 (#13)
0 / 141
 Steady 0 Opposition
  1. ↑ Proportional representation votes.

Municipal

Election Votes[lower-alpha 1]  % Council seats Mayors +/–
2015 1,243 0.11 (#18)
0 / 1,473
0 / 60
2019 Did not compete Did not compete
0 / 1,442
0 / 60
 Steady 0
  1. ↑ Municipal council election votes.

References

  1. ↑ "Eligijus Masiulis: Aš grąžinau Raimondui Kurlianskiui paskolą".
  2. 1 2 Dapkus, Liudas (14 October 2012), Poll: Ruling coalition to win Lithuanian election, Associated Press
  3. 1 2 Nordsieck, Wolfram (2016). "Lithuania". Parties and Elections in Europe. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020.
  4. 1 2 Beniusis, Vaidotas (14 October 2012), Austerity-weary Lithuania swings left in parliamentary election, Agence France-Presse
  5. ↑ 'Anti-paedophile' party poised for parliamentary debut in Lithuania, Agence France-Presse, 13 October 2012
  6. ↑ "P. Gylys traukiasi iš politikos".
  7. ↑ ""Drąsos kelio" pirmininkas Jonas Varkala prašo jį suspenduoti kunigystėje".
  8. ↑ ""Drąsos kelio" frakcija mirė: Valdas Vasiliauskas pabėgo pirmas – jį priglaudė Rolando Pakso partija".
  9. ↑ VRK inf. Archived 17 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/lietuva/parlamentaras-vytautas-matulevicius-butina-iteisinti-homoseksualu-partneryste-56-643797.
  11. ↑ Želnienė, Liepa (20 November 2022), "Drąsos kelias" balsuos už Algirdą Butkevičių, retrieved 19 January 2023


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