Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, the leader of the opposition Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), on Wednesday clarified her previous statements on “forming the government”. According to the politician, she would act as prime minister if her party won the upcoming parliamentary elections.
“I ask the people of Lithuania to give our Social Democratic Party their utmost confidence. I’m not hiding from anyone, not under anyone’s skirt like some party leaders. I’m leading the party list to the Seimas, and I’ve said that together with the president, I will form a government in case of success,” Blinkevičiūtė told LRT.lt on Wednesday.
“The first thing to do is to gain the trust of the people. If that trust is really there, I will definitely take responsibility and lead the government,” she said.
Last week, Blinkevičiūtė, who is currently serving as Lithuania’s representative in the European Parliament, said she “would form a socially responsible, uniting, and active government” if her party won the Seimas elections.
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The statement led to speculations about whether this meant she would take up the post of prime minister after forming the ruling coalition. The politician herself refused to give a clear answer up until now.
According to Blinkevičiūtė, however, her intentions have been clear to everyone since it was announced that she would be leading the LSDP party list in the Seimas elections.
“You know, I never put on crowns beforehand, that is my character, I will probably not change. Therefore, to somehow declare that I will be this, that, or the other messiah, that is not characteristic of me,” she told LRT.lt on Wednesday.
“I sincerely say that from the very beginning, it was clear that in case of success, I would take responsibility, I would not shirk responsibility, I would form the government together with the president and lead the government,” she added.
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