Pickle king jars with the plans of Lithuanian's elite
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Lithuanian tongues have trouble getting around his name. Yet Viktor Uspaskich's exotic moniker has provided little resistance in his climb to the pinnacle of politics.
Lithuanian tongues have trouble getting around his name. Yet Viktor Uspaskich's exotic moniker has provided little resistance in his climb to the pinnacle of politics.
As Lithuania's richest MP who, in part, amassed his fortune thorugh his massive pickle factory, Uspaskich, 45, would make a colourful prime minister by any country's standards. But in a country with bitter memories of its Soviet past, Mr Uspaskich's Russian ethnicity- along with his controversial politics - have caused consternation among many in the political elite.
As Lithuanians went to the polls in the final round of parliamentary elections yesterday, Uspaskich's recently-formed Labour Party was poised to trounce both the ruling leftist coalition and establishment parties of the right. In the first round of elections held on 10 October, Labour garnered 28.6 per cent of the popular vote, outstripping the second-place coalition of outgoing Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas by eight percentage points.
Mr Uspaskich has been ridiculed by opponents as a pork-barrelling populist. He has promised to raise pensions and lower taxes.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments