Lithuania's Social Democrats, winners of last month's parliamentary election, defended on Saturday their decision to form a coalition government with a populist party whose leader is standing trial over alleged antisemitic statements.

A new coalition includes a party led by a politician notorious for antisemitic remarks, another blow to the longstanding refusal by Europe’s mainstream parties to join with those seen as extremist.

Lithuania's Social Democrats, who won last month's parliamentary election, said on Friday they had decided to include in a new coalition government a populist party whose leader is standing trial for alleged antisemitic statements.