Social Democrats have announced reaching a coalition deal with the Democratic Union “For Lithuania” and the Nemunas Dawn party.
“A consensus in principle has been reached, the parties will be asked to decide on a coalition,” said Gintautas Paluckas, the social democrat candidate for prime minister.
Earlier on Friday, the leader of the Democrats, Saulius Skvernelis, announced his party would not withdraw from coalition negotiations, but said there was “a need to return from emotional [noise] to a more professional process”.
“A ruling majority and a government must be formed. There is no good solution, because two parties do not have enough backing to form a stable coalition,” Skevernelis said.
The coalition would have 86 out of 141 seats in the Seimas – Lithuania's Social Democrats (LSDP) would have 52 MPs, Nemunas Dawn 20, and Democrats 14.
“Today we see the possibility of two parties – the Social Democrats and us – to form a coalition,” Skvernelis said. “But we understand the future prime minister’s wish to have more support in the Seimas with a larger group of MPs.”
This is why the controversial Nemunas Dawn party was invited to become part of the coalition, according to Skvernelis.
“This is the responsibility and decision of our fellow Social Democrats,” he added.
Remigijus Žemaitaitis, head of Nemunas Dawn, said his party member Agnė Širinskienė could become the Seimas speaker. She later said that the coalition agreement foresaw Skvernelis as the head of the parliament, which would be acceptable to the Nemunas Dawn party.
Meanwhile, the Democrats insist that in case of law enforcement asking the Seimas to lift the immunity of any given MP, that member of parliament should immediately waive his or her immunity.
This is aimed at Žemaitaitis, whose case on the alleged incitement of hatred has already reached the courts. He was previously found by the Constitutional Court to have broken his oath of office and violated the Constitution.
“This is an unconditional demand that there should be no cover-up [of any MP,” Skvernelis said.
President weighs in
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said his views on Žemaitaitis remained unchanged, hinting that he would veto his appointment as a minister.
“I don't see Žemaitaitis working in the government,” Nausėda told reporters during his visit to Budapest on Friday. “This is not a personal matter. It is much more serious, as it is related to the fact that we will have big problems in implementing an active and effective foreign policy if we take certain decisions domestically that are not compatible with it.”
The Constitutional Court found that Žemaitaitis had broken his oath by making anti-Semitic remarks, which cost him his seat in the parliament. He resigned from the Seimas before he could be impeached.
Žemaitaitis would not disclose whether he would become a minister, nor how many posts his party would claim in the government.
"The party board will meet [later on Friday] and make a decision," he said. "We are not a new political force – the members have [worked in politics] since 2005, and it's not just me – there are many of my former, old comrades. People will likely be named in two weeks."
Dawn of Nemunas to have three ministers – BNS sources
According to sources available to the Baltic News Service (BNS) sources, the Social Democrats will have nine ministers, Nemunas Dawn will have three, and the Democrats will have two.
The latter will also get the position of the Seimas' speaker, BNS reported on Friday afternoon citing two sources in different parties that are involved in the negotiations.
Nemunas Dawn would get the agriculture, environment, and justice ministries. Meanwhile, the Democrats would be in charge of the economy and energy ministries.
Further reading
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
