War Propaganda and the Militarization of Everything in Lithuania Serve Only to Divert Attention from Theft: In reality, we have long been living like Latin America; we have a budget of the timid, the cunning, and the indifferent.

 

“The Lithuanian government is the least profligate in the European Union (EU). Total government spending in Lithuania is one-fifth lower than the EU average, and one-tenth lower (amounting to nearly 5 billion euros) than in Poland. Yet, cowardly politicians are afraid to say this publicly. Instead, the opposition accuses the ruling coalition of supposedly inflating social spending.

 

Unfortunately, there is just as little truth in this claim as there is regarding overall spending. Lithuania ranks second to last—just ahead of Hungary—in terms of social protection expenditure. We fund this sector 40% below the EU average and 25% below Poland.

 

Therefore, to argue that the budget deficit should be reduced by cutting social or general state expenditure is effectively submitting an application to join the ‘Latin American club completely.’”

 

It fails to dawn on Lithuania’s so-called elite that paying wages 2.5 times lower than in Germany for the same work—while prices remain the same—is theft.