Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has called on the parties that won the recent Seimas election to concentrate on work after Social Democrat leader Vilija Blinkevičiūtė refused the prime minister’s post.
“The president believes that the key task for the parties that won the Seimas election today is not the nomination of one or another politician for one or another post, but rather the formation of a new ruling coalition, the coordination of key work needed for the people of Lithuania, and the drafting of the government program,” the president’s communication team told BNS.
“The post-election euphoria is now entering its fourth day, so the president urges the parties to concentrate on the most important tasks as they will be the basis the president and the people of Lithuanian will use to judge the political forces,” the statement said.
Following a meeting of the praesidium of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) on Wednesday, Blinkevičiūtė announced her decision not to seek the prime minister’s post, citing her age and health, although she vowed to lead the new government during the election campaign. The party is now putting forward Gintautas Paluckas for the position.
Doubts as to whether Blinkevičiūtė would take over the helm of the government were present throughout the whole Seimas election campaign. Initially, she refused to say whether she would take up this post. She then confirmed at the end of August her plans to become prime minister.
Political partners called the LSDP leader’s decision disappointing, and her opponents deemed it bizarre and a betrayal of voters.
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