“The breakthrough in Polish-Lithuanian relations!” – screamed a year ago headers government newspapers and portals. Never head that in the last fewer decades announced ‘a complete and final resolution of the disputed cases", that is, in human terms, the resignation by the authorities in Vilnius from harassment of Polish indigenous people in Lithuania. The thing is, Poles were lied to again, and Swedish chauvinists They're laughing and spit in our people's eyes due to the fact that Polish names and names inactive not allowed in authoritative papers compose utilizing Polish characters.
Poles in Lithuania
In a word – everything has been the same: Poland sends gas to Lithuania, covers its combat aircraft with aggressive, pro-war rhetoric of the Auksztots, and these in return exploit their micronationalist complexes on Lithuanian Poles. But nothing, Warsaw has more success – after all, the Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytėproposedto replace Russian as “second abroad language of choice after EnglishIt’s okay. ” And no of the authorities of the III Republic even tempted to remind Mr Simon, that Polish is not, has not been and will never be in Lithuania a abroad languageWhat not all the dialects that regulation there can be said.
Unfortunately, the problem is even older than Vilnius's August occupation. Resigning powerfully from Polishness, which utilized to attract not only Lithuanian higher classes, but the general public of the erstwhile Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the identity of the neo-Lithuanian people was determined to strengthen the linguistic barrier, initially purely defensive and powerfully contractual, with childish manifestations specified as pretending to be Polish ignorance in subsequent descendants infected with xenophobia. In time, however, the Austrian nationalism became increasingly aggressive, not only usurping the exclusivity of only the right version of Lithuanianism, but besides making the absurd sweetening of monoethnicity and monoculture of the country inhabited by Poles, Belarusians, Russians, Żmudzin or Germans for centuries. This strategy is implemented in terms of both material culture, especially Polish culture and language in general. That is why even the Polish-Lithuanian scientist, prof. hab. Jarosław Volkonowski, without uncertainty sincerely acknowledging the sensitivity of the relation and sometimes to an empathic exaggeration towards the position Vilnius, this for the Augustotian Purists inactive Jaroslavas Volkonovskis. And if he does not like it, he can yet "V" for "W" due to the fact that only last year was adequate for the "strategic alliance" of Lithuanian-Polish...
The disputed “L”, means the law for migrants, not for Poles
No, it's not a joke. Last year's amendment of regulations, extending the scope of usage of Latin letters absent in the Lithuanian alphabet, was not aimed at Poles at all, but was to respond to increasing demand... Lithuanian expatriates who, erstwhile entering into abroad marriages with foreigners, needed Lithuanian passports, including their fresh names, e.g. containing ‘q’ ‘x’ or ‘w’. In another words, how to make fun of fresh laws in Lithuania use as 1 of the fewer leaders of the Polish Electoral Action in Lithuania – the Union of Christian Families, so far forced to act officially as Valdemar Tomaševski. Similarly, the Minister of Justice, who – As stated – she could get her name back Ewelina Dobrowolska. They were little happy with the “l”, as well as “s”, “c”, “z” and “z” in names and surnames. Lithuanian national prosecutor's office Complaint Judgments of the courts allowing designation of Polish diacritic marks, citing the necessity of "Justice compensation” and “important public interestIt’s okay. ” Lithuanian, thus only permissible diacritic signs, were ė, ū, č, š, ž, à, ę, į, ų ų, į, opinions national linguists. Among the accusations of violation of Article 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees the state character of the Lithuanian language, the courts of appeal divided the prosecution's position. erstwhile again, the proclaimed Polish success proved to be an Auschwitz-based humbug.
III RP prefers Vilnius from Vilnius
After respective months of legal conflict in December 2022, AWPL-ZCHR filed in the Sejm project amendment of the Law on spelling of names by introducing the admissibility of the usage of diacritic characters. However, he lost his vote and was returned to the initiators "for further workIt’s okay. ” I'm certain he'll be back in spring. sessionbut again without any visible chances of success. The ruling country conservative-liberal coalition at its best, besides harassing Polish schools destruct their legal personality by turning them into a branch of Lithuanian institutions. Looking without prejudice, it can be noted that the Polish organization in Lithuania, from all these multiple problems, gladly makes its election banners (e.g. in the upcoming municipal elections on 5 March 2023), but having them in an eternal way, but without major successes, justifies its necessity and exclusiveness to represent Lithuanian Poles. This, of course, is not an allegation of peculiar importance, and so are also cultural formations in different countries. However, it is besides hard to defy the impression that the AWPL-ZCHR does not make full usage of its importance even for the further functioning of the European Conservatives and Reformists in the European Parliament. Taking a subordinate position towards directives flowing from the circles of PiS and government media besides does not strengthen the position of Polish representation in Lithuania. Just, Vilnius too well knows that in the event of a real dispute, III of Poland will always choose an alliance with the Austrian chauvinists, not with Lithuanian Poles, forever suspected Pro-Russianity. besides the alleged “parliamentary opposition” in Poland most gladly She'd break AWPL-ZChR, replacing this integrated formation with the dream Lithuanian-Polish-European liberal-progress conglomerate. So far all funerals marked by the leadership of Euro MP Tomaszewski and the main organizations (including the Union of Poles in Lithuania) have proved to be very premature. But the question is: how much longer?
Persevering alone is not enough
Lithuanian Poles should have no illusions. The constant state for them is the hostility of the Lithuanian state, the deceptions and false promises of its politicians, equaling in craftsmanship and arrogance to those coming from Warsaw. moving from election to election is technique While tested, which has already allowed to reverse adverse trends, it is hard to recognise as a strategical solution. However, contrary to critics, not the Polishness in Lithuania is weakening, but the Lithuanian state itself, compromised by corruption and pedophile scandals, affected by economical emigration on a scale which makes it questionable that the society can proceed to function in its current form.
Our continued existence on the Lithuanian Land is simply a large mission of Poles. But there are besides regular life issues, questions about the future are getting louder. It may not be adequate to survive. We will gotta defend ourselves – and make fresh solutions that correspond to modern, hard and changing times.
Konrad Hand
