The ruling parties are putting pressure on Parliament Speaker Viktoras Pranckietis, but should instead find a way forward in coalition talks without removing him from the post, according to Lithuania's President-elect Gitanas Nausėda.
In Nausėda's opinion, the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVŽS) could resolve the issue without removing Pranckietis from the position. The Social Democratic Labour Party (LSDDP), which seeks the post for itself in the coalition talks, could be offered something else, according to the president-elect.
“There's an element of political pressure. [...] The problem could be resolved some other way, amending the coalition agreement for that party [LSDDP) with the appetite for the Seimas speaker's portfolio to be offered, for example, a ministerial portfolio or two perhaps,” Nausėda said in an interview with the Lietuvos Rytas TV channel's program ‘Lietuva Tiesiogiai’ (Lithuania Live), aired on Monday.
“There are also signs of ambition from the leaders of certain parties, who say it will be the way we agreed and no other way,” he added.
Under a memorandum signed by several Lithuanian parties negotiating a new coalition, the LSDDP should appoint its member as the parliament speaker.
However, Pranckietis, an LVŽS member, has refused to resign, and LVŽS leader Ramūnas Karbausis has recognised that he cannot muster enough votes in parliament to remove him.
The memorandum also states that Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis remains in his position.
Coalition talks are now held between the LVŽS, the LSDDP, the Order and Justice party and the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania – Christian Families Alliance.
