The Way of Courage
The Way of Courage Drąsos kelias | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Neringa Venckienė |
| Chairperson | Jonas Varkala |
| Founded | March 19, 2012 |
| Dissolved | June 30, 2025 |
| Headquarters | Garliava, Vytauto g. 57-2 |
| Membership (Oct 2024) | 2,070 |
| Ideology | Anti-pedophile activism Populism[1] Anti-corruption[2][3] |
| Website | |
| http://www.drasoskeliaspartija.lt/ | |
The Way of Courage (Lithuanian: Drąsos Kelias) was an one-issue populist political party in Lithuania.[1] It was founded in 2012 and had an anti-corruption platform,[2][3] became inactive in the 2020s and was formally liquidated on 30 June 2025.
History
[edit | edit source]
The party was established by supporters of Drąsius Kedys, who claimed that justice officials had whitewashed a ring of pedophiles after he had defamed another person of sexually molesting his daughter.[4][5] Kedys had 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".[6] 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.[7]
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.[8]
With impeachment of Neringa Venckienė and Valdas Vasiliauskas moving to the Order and Justice parliamentary group on 2014, the party's parliamentary group was dissolved as it had less than 7 members.[9]
In 2016, the party won just over 1 per cent of the votes and lost all representatives in parliament.
In 2024, Varkala confirmed that the party is no longer active and will be liquidated.[10] It was later confirmed that the procedure had started in mid-2024.[11]
Member of Seimas (2012–2016)
[edit | edit source]- 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[12]
- 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
[edit | edit source]The party is generally considered populist.[13] Some researchers have described it as "a single issue protest community".[14] It included members from across the political spectrum. While some of its leaders, such as Jonas Varkala and Algirdas Patackas, were conservative, others were more liberal, such as Vytautas Matulevičius, who was one of the first Lithuanian politicians to support same-sex partnerships.[15]
In its 2012 electoral program, the party promised various populist measures such as higher pensions, simplified referendum law and abolishing Lithuania's parallel voting system in favor of first-past-the-post. It also vowed to combat corruption, establish progressive taxation and ban advertisement of alcohol.[16]
Election results
[edit | edit source]Seimas
[edit | edit source]| Election | Votes[a] | % | Seats | +/– | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 109,448 | 8.34 (#5) | 7 / 141
|
 7
|
External support[17] |
| 2016 | 3,498 | 0.29 (#14) | 0 / 141
|
Decrease 7 | — |
| 2020 | 13,337 | 1.18 (#13) | 0 / 141
|
 0
|
— |
| 2024 | Did not compete | 0 / 141
|
0
|
— | |
Municipal
[edit | edit source]| Election | Votes[b] | % | Council seats | Mayors | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1,243 | 0.11 (#18) | 0 / 1,473
|
0 / 60
|
Error creating thumbnail: |
| 2019 | Did not compete | 0 / 1,442
|
0 / 60
|
0
| |
References
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- ^ VRK inf. Archived 17 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine
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