Lithuanian MEP Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, the leader of the opposition Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, has said that she will take part in forming the government if the party wins the upcoming parliamentary elections, without making it clear whether she means to become prime minister.
“If the people voiced their greatest confidence in the Social Democrats in the Seimas election, together with the president I will form a socially responsible, uniting, and active government,” the politician said in a statement on Wednesday.
Up until now, Blinkevičiūtė has been avoiding clearly saying whether she would be the party’s candidate for prime minister and whether she plans to give up her mandate as MEP if the LSDP were to be tasked to form the new government.
On Wednesday, the LSDP unveiled its Unity Program and slogan for the Seimas election – “A state that works”.
Blinkevičiūtė says the party’s main goals are to curb the impact of drastic price increases on people’s lives, to ensure the full security of citizens, to strengthen the health and education sectors, to tame usurious state-owned energy companies, and to provide significant assistance to families.
The LSDP is the largest party in Lithuania, with more than 14,000 members. It has been leading in the opinion polls ahead of the parliamentary elections in Lithuania which are due to take place in October this year.
The headline and the leading paragraph were amended on August 23, 2024, to reflect that Blinkevičiūtė did not outright say she would be prime minister.
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