The ruling Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) has invited the Nemunas Dawn party and the opposition Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVŽS) to form a new governing coalition, party officials announced Sunday. That means they are parting ways with the Democratic Union “For Lithuania”, the party of the current Seimas Speaker Saulius Skvernelis.
The LSDP council voted in favour of the move, with 47 of its 60 branches supporting the proposal. Interim party chair Mindaugas Sinkevičius said the decision reflected frustration with the party’s current partners.
“We are changing our coalition partners because we are taking the situation into account,” Sinkevičius told reporters. “We have assessed the behaviour, rhetoric, and positions of our partners in the former coalition. We hope, want, and expect stability.”
In the current parliament, Seimas, the LVŽS sits with the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania–Christian Families Alliance and two independent MPs, Ignas Vėgėlė and Rimas Jonas Jankūnas. Sinkevičius said whether they join the ruling bloc will depend on the LVŽS.
The Social Democrats have not yet decided whether the coalition agreement will be signed by parties or parliamentary groups. Sinkevičius confirmed, however, that the LSDP would seek the position of speaker of the Seimas, now held by Skvernelis, leader of the Democrats “For Lithuania” who are not being invited to join the new coalition.
“I believe that Juozas Olekas is an excellent candidate for this position, but we have not yet decided on a specific person,” Sinkevičius said. Olekas currently serves as the first deputy speaker.
Sinkevičius said the party hopes to finalise a coalition agreement this week. “Next week we will have a second round of discussions, and I am optimistic that perhaps by Thursday we will somehow have that coalition agreement in place,” he said.
He added that more than four ministers could be replaced in the new government, making it unlikely that members of the Democrats “For Lithuania” would remain in their posts.
Sinkevičius also dismissed speculation that Nemunas Dawn might demand a larger share of ministries. “We have not heard anything about this increased appetite, so to speak, and we hope that this appetite will be commensurate with the number of seats held in the parliament,” he said.
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