Tomaševski's record
Dual electoral success began with the presidential elections. Thanks to substantial voters' support, Valdemar Tomaševski reached rather unimaginable results for Lithuanian politics. He won 110,000 votes, which constitute nearly 9 per cent that is twice as much as the results obtained from the presidential elections five years ago. Tomaševski gained a decisive support of electorate not only from Vilnius Region but also from Visaginas, Širvintai, Trakai, Švenčionys and Zarasai areas as well as from the city of Vilnius. An influential Polish daily newspaper 'Rzeczpospolita' commented this event by saying that the doubling support among voters is a unique occurrence in politics and can be described as a personal record of the EAPL leader. Valdemar Tomaševski has become an undisputed leader for people residing in the major areas of the country and an authority for the Poles and other minorities living in Lithuania. What is also worth noting, it is that more and more Lithuanians choose to vote for the EAPL, appreciating the honest policy and seeing the party as a good defender of civil rights of all country's nations. Voters appreciate the political experience and reputation, that Tomaševski has; he has never been in the shadow of allegations or dishonesty, corruption or scandals, which are an often occurrence among Lithuanian politicians. His party follows a principle of never taking money from business managers in order not to be dependent on their aspirations, which is an exceptional practice on Lithuanian political scene. Tomaševski is one of few politicians, who actually implements pre-election promises, always keeps his word and persistently fights for the common good.
Achievement on a European scale
Concrete and tangible electoral program for Lithuania was that what distinguished Tomaševski from other candidates. In his plan of action a clear reference to Christian values, which are the salt of Vilnius earth, were made. The main theme of election campaign has also emphasised the importance of Christianity as the slogan of the EAPL party read 'In the name of Christian values.' It is a significant and good election slogan as it shows the value system, which the EAPL leader follows in both private as well as public life, and the value structure that in the first place recognises honesty. In the modern world very few politicians stand up for the defence and promotion of true Christian principles and values, especially for the protection of life from its conception to natural death, and care for the family. Another worth noting factor in the relation to the presidential elections - participation and obtained support when representing the Polish national minority is an achievement at a European scale. No one of national minority's representatives in the European Union (EU) has ever achieved such high results during elections as Valdemar Tomaševski. For instance, the candidate of substantial Hungarian minority in Romania Keleman in the 2009 presidential elections received slightly more than 3 per cent of votes. Therefore, the result achieved by the chairman of the EAPL should be undeniably emphasised as it has no precedents in Europe.
Success in the European elections
Excellent result during presidential elections was sealed two weeks later with another important electoral success, this time with European one. During elections to the European Parliament, the Coalition of Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania and the Russian Alliance 'Block of Valdemar Tomaševski' received over 92,000 votes that constitute 8.1 per cent nationwide. This allowed getting a seat in the European Parliament (EP), which was again taken by Valdemar Tomaševski. Compared with the Seimas elections of 2012, when the EAPL party gained 6.1 per cent valid votes that allowed for the first time to exceed the threshold, this time the result was improved by one-third. Coalition block, what is worth noting, won the first place in as many as 200 electoral districts out of approximately two thousand existing in the country. The EP election results showed clear support for the policy pursued by the EAPL party. Chaired by Valdemar Tomaševski, a good organizer having an innate sense of politics, the party experienced another successful election in a row. The EAPL leader made a very important step: he opened the door to cooperation with other national minorities, including Russian, Belarusian and Tartar minorities. Thanks to this action, predominantly a Polish national minority party has become a national party. Tomaševski has rightly focused on cooperation with all national minorities in Lithuania, because only united powers can effectively counter the scandalous discrimination politics perpetrated by Lithuanian authorities. Therefore, the EP elections were issued with coalition's list that has well proven its actions during the past years, and now it once again got a chance of continuing its policies. Tomaševski is a politician with principles and the EAPL coalition is aware that its leader keeps his word and does not betray his allies, what is a rare trait in politics. Hence the common start, because in unity is strength. Coalition's votes demonstrated the rightness of the decision to increase and spread party's cooperation with other parties, because this time not only Poles from Vilnius region, as always, voted en masse for the 'Block of Valdemar Tomaševski', but also members of other national communities in Lithuania.
A good campaign
High results achieved in the presidential and European elections were an outcome of a well-conducted election campaign and effective organizational work, based on clear principles, integrity and building a community of true values. Electoral success of the EAPL party comes from dedication to the cause of its members and the smooth party's management by Valdemar Tomaševski, who is a good political strategist and who has a clear and concrete vision of his targets. Co-working with the right people is also an element of a good party's organization, particularly that the EAPL builds on the solid foundation of Christian values and caring for the common good. Every success is always measured by people's work. The excellent results from the past elections are the best proof of this statement. The success became possible because of the commitment of active and well-known individuals, who added their bit to the result of the elections. But it is also important to mention the anonymous supporters, without whom it would be difficult to imagine any election campaign. Recent double elections in Lithuania ended up with a double unimaginable success of Valdemar Tomaševski. And without any doubt, it can surely be concluded that this double success of the EAPL leader is also a great victory of the Poles living in Lithuania.
Dr. Bogusław Rogalski, Political scientist
ECR Advisor for the international affairs at the European Parliament
