Naujas žvilgsnis į Kazio Griniaus ir Mykolo Sleževičiaus veiksmus 1926 m. gruodžio 17 d. įvykiuose
Contemporary Evaluation of Kazys Grinius’ and Mykolas Sleževičius’ Actions in the Light of the Events of December 17, 1926

Summary/Abstract: The article discusses the consequences of the coup d’état of December 17, 1926, for the Lithuanian Peasant Populist Union (LPPU). The leaders of the party were the then President of Lithuania Kazys Grinius and Prime Minister Mykolas Sleževičius and, holding the supreme power, gave in to the initiators of the coup without any struggle. The leaders of the Populists, who were considered by the society to be staunch democrats, did not take effective measures at the end of 1926 to defend the Seimas and the Government from the conspirators. In addition, the authorities of the LPPU used passive tactics thus helping to legalize the consequences of the coup and facilitating the rise to power for the Christian Democrats and Nationalists, who organized this coup. What is more, the Populist leaders, during the first weeks after the coup, made no attempts to explain the reasons of their unconditional surrender either to their party members or the society. Therefore, when the younger generation of the Populists emerged in the 4th decade, this policy evoked their heavy criticism, and the core of disagreement became the actions of the Populist Union on December 17, 1926. The research allows to claim that the unconditional surrender by President Kazys Grinius and Prime Minister Mykolas Sleževičius on December 17, 1926, as well as the following events, paralysed the further development of Lithuania’s statehood and weakened the position of the Populist Party and its leaders. The constant criticism of the party leaders in the 4th decade proves that they lost support of their party members; as a result, this situation led to disagreements within the party and especially influenced the attitudes and behavior of the younger generation of the Populists who later, in the second half of the 4th decade, started seeking cooperation with the underground Communist party. Mention should be made, however, that in the face of danger to democracy, it should be defended. Both party leaders and ordinary members had to sacrifice themselves for their party, the welfare of their country and its secure future. Unfortunately, the actions of the authorities of the Populist Union in 1926 could be viewed as an obvious example of unacceptable behaviour in the face of threat to democracy.

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