Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, leader of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), has described her party’s success in the parliamentary election as a “historic victory” and said that the Social Democrats are not planning any new reforms while in power.
“We, the Social Democrats, have achieved a historic victory, something we probably haven’t seen in decades. We won both in single-member constituencies, where we secured as many as 34 seats, and in the multi-member constituency, where we took 18 seats,” Blinkevičiūtė told a post-election press conference on Monday.
“Our party’s election program clearly states [...] that we do not plan any new reforms,” she said.
Blinkevičiūtė reiterated that the LSDP will continue coalition talks with both the Democratic Union “For Lithuania” and the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union.
“These are simply consultations, an exchange of views. As agreed, we are setting up negotiating groups that will work together to align party programs and common actions,” she said.
The final decision on the ruling coalition will be made by the Social Democrats’ presidium, which is scheduled to hold its meeting on Wednesday, and then by the party’s council, which is expected to convene next week, according to the LSDP leader.
The Social Democrats will have 52 seats in the next parliament, the Democrats will hold 14, and the Farmers and Greens will have 8, giving them a potential ruling majority with 74 seats out of 141.
Despite earlier assurances of her willingness to serve as prime minister if her party emerged victorious, Blinkevičiūtė’s rhetoric changed on election night, and she now declines to confirm whether or not she will head the next cabinet.
“All circumstances will be considered, everything will be evaluated, and then a decision will be made in our presidium and council,” the LSDP leader said.
“For now, let’s put a period on the question of the prime minister’s position because decisions will be made,” she added.
Meanwhile, Saulius Skvernelis, leader of the Democrats “For Lithuania” said Blinkevičiūtė left no doubt that she would lead the new government.
“As for Vilija Blinkeviciute, if there had been any intentions, she might have said something yesterday at the table where we congratulated them and discussed our common principles that they have other options,” Skvernelis said on Monday.
“There were no such phrases and yesterday’s conversation did not allow us to doubt whether Vilija Blinkevičiūtė had changed her position or not. We did not receive any such signals,” he added.
Difficult discussions
Coalition talks with the LSDP would be difficult but not impossible, Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, leader of the Liberal Movement, said on Monday.
“A possible coalition could be discussed, but as I have repeatedly said, we do have a lot of programmatic differences, especially with the Social Democrats,” she told a post-election press conference on Monday.
“If such a discussion were to take place, it would be quite difficult, though not impossible,” she added.
Čmilytė-Nielsen once again reiterated the position expressed during the election campaign that her party could not join a coalition with the Lithuanian Farmer and Greens Union and the Dawn of the Nemunas party.
“Naturally, this position remains the same,” the Liberal Movement leader said.
The Liberal Movement has secured 12 seats in the next parliament.
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