Petras Auštrevičius MEP: exclusive interview with EU Today

During an extremely busy week in the European Parliament in Brussels, EU Today was able to interview prominent MEP Mr. Petras Auštrevičius.

This week saw not only Parliamentary Committees sitting , but there was also a major plenary session for the Committee of the Regions being held in the Parliament, which meant many people including members of the public, people who we wouldn’t usually see there.

Coming up towards the June elections, as well as parliamentary elections in member states, and also the UK and USA, all of which will have an effect on the European geopolitical landscape, I was able to interview Mr. Petras Auštrevičius, a Lithuanian member of the European Parliament who sits in the Renew Europe Group. 

Regarding the elections he stated, “I think this is a very special year, as we speak, 2024. If I am right, there are more than 70 national and supranational elections the world is facing this year. It will be, well, I think a year of change. No doubt some national governments will fall down, and new ones will come to office. 

“But, I take it as a normality, in democracy.”

He added, “Not all the elections will be under democratic rule, let’s be frank.

“Just in the next month, in February, on the 25th, we’re going to see some comedy with the so-called elections in Belarus, for example. So, there are rogue states.

“Or in Russia, where Putin will be reelected fifth time.

“It’s an excellent tool, elections. If you’re in full control, if you know whom to control, which way to control, so your victory is guaranteed. So, that’s the way a big portion of the world lives under. So, it’s absolutely challenging, I would say, circumstances we have to understand. 

“So, that’s why I’m looking at the part of the democratic world, which will be really facing very competitive elections here and in the US.

“And my hope is to really to sustain at least the basic set of values and beliefs that we have agreed before. If we are to change some beliefs and to “modernise” them according to some leading figures, I think we might end up not being democratic. 

“So, that’s for me the biggest challenge, not only the change of the governments.”

Ukraine, and the awkward Mr. Orban.

Our interview took place just days away form the second anniversary of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine – Mr. Auštrevičius has been a strong supporter of Ukraine for many years – and we discussed  how a shift to the right in European politics might affect across the board support for Ukraine: would that give the pro-Russian lobby more power in the European Parliament?

In the same context also discussed Hungary’s Viktor Orban – “ a big player.. he plays every time to very end, extracting some benefits, economic gains for himself and for Hungarian budget,” – as Mr. Auštrevičius pointed out.

We discussed the new Polish leadership, seen in EU circles as a very positive development: “they can bring together more countries under one or two ideas, I think it’s not too much. We need this, especially in Eastern flank of European Union. In the region where we feel this “cold” coming from East, risks and challenges emerging almost every day,”  he said.

Reds under the bed?

Just days before our interview a major scandal broke in the Parliament – not the first of its kind – when Latvian MEP Tatjana Ždanoka was accused of being an asset for Russian intelligence services.

Tatjana Ždanoka

“How can you oppose all the decisions of the European Parliament, voting against resolutions calling for sanctions or deterrence against Russia, and be neutral?” Mr. Auštrevičius asked.

He added, “She always served interests of the past of the East and never of Europe. But she was given a such a privileged access to the European Union.

“She was a part of closed room discussions, which were supposed to be only for those you trust, and some confidential information was shared.” 

“That’s why I believe she was very important source of information for those in Kremlin or in Moscow, or who knows who else. How many more do we have in this house? 

“How many will come after elections?” 

Mr. Auštrevičius confirmed that he will be standing for re-election in June of this year.

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NB.

Tatjana Ždanoka has denied allegations against her and is currently under investigation by the European Parliament.

Despite expectations to the contrary – the matter is discussed at greater length in the full interview – the day after our interview Viktor Orban surprised everyone by agreeing to back continued support for Ukraine.

Exactly what he received in return, we have yet to learn…… Watch this space! 

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