STORY: More than 5,000 people rallied near Lithuania's parliament on Thursday.They say they do not like the look of a parliamentary coalition that's in the works because one of the party leaders is accused of making antisemitic statements.

Over 5,000 people protested against a coalition between the Lithuanian Social Democrats and the Nemunas Dawn party, whose leader faces charges of antisemitism. The coalition controls 86 seats in parliament.

Around 30 Lithuanian NGOs also signed a letter urging the Social Democrats to drop Nemunas Dawn from the coalition, saying the party would have a negative impact on human rights, democracy and national security. U.S., Polish and German officials also criticized the newly formed coalition.

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.

Demonstrators gathered in Lithuania’s capital to protest the move by the Baltic nation’s Social Democrats to forge a coalition with a party whose leader is accused of making antisemitic remarks.