Lithuania’s Social Democratic Party (LSDP) has decided to form a coalition with Nemunas Dawn and the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVŽS), narrowing its options after a week of negotiations with three parties.
President Gitanas Nausėda has stressed that the most important outcome is a coalition capable of ensuring parliamentary support for prime minister-designate Inga Ruginienė and maintaining unity. He also underlined that although Nemunas Dawn has spoken about nominating ministers from within its ranks, he would not support such partisan appointments.
A strained past coalition
In November, the Social Democrats, Nemunas Dawn and the Democrats “For Lithuania” party signed a coalition agreement, but the alliance quickly proved fragile. Leaders signed only at the last moment, and optimism was muted. The four-year plan to form the government and parliamentary majority collapsed after then-Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas resigned, forcing the Social Democrats back to the negotiating table last week.
Talks first resumed with Nemunas Dawn. “Despite a strong narrative that Nemunas Dawn should be excluded, we have shown that for eight months we can work together. I believe today’s agreement with the major partners has been reached,” party leader Remigijus Žemaitaitis said earlier.
Interim Social Democratic chair Mindaugas Sinkevičius, who had previously ruled out working with Nemunas Dawn, adopted a softer tone, saying it was important to hear all sides.
Democrats leader Saulius Skvernelis, however, kept insisting that including Nemunas Dawn was a mistake.
“We hear these remarks – some sharper, some more tension-raising, some excessive. We will measure the temperature when we meet,” Sinkevičius said at the time.
The following day, Democrats stated their position more bluntly. “We come with open hearts and good energy to continue working,” Skvernelis said, adding that their single condition was that Nemunas Dawn – which has a bigger group in the parliament that Skvernelis’ own party – not be included in the coalition.
“Nemunas Dawn’s participation in the coalition is a problem for us. How this problem is solved depends on the colleagues and what proposal they will make,” Skvernelis said.
Farmers and Greens join talks
The LVŽS was the last to be invited to negotiations. Party leaders said the Social Democrats indicated they saw the possibility of working together, and they did not rule out cooperation. Unlike the Democrats, the Farmers and Greens did not set conditions.
While those talks took place, PM nominee Ruginienė met President Nausėda for the second time last week. She confirmed that different coalition scenarios were considered.
“We modelled various options, weighing the pros and cons, and we formed a picture. I also expressed my views about one and another option,” Ruginienė said.
Nausėda did not specify which coalition makeup he preferred but said what mattered most was functionality.
“The best coalition would be one that works smoothly with other institutions of government, does not create international scandals and, most importantly, can make decisions in areas of national defence, economic growth and reducing social inequality. These are very important issues,” Nausėda said.
Four options
On the Social Democrats’ table were four scenarios: continuing with Nemunas Dawn and the Democrats, working with Nemunas Dawn and the Farmers and Greens, building a bloc only with the Democrats and Farmers and Greens, or including all three parties in one coalition.
“This is the big dilemma – whether to speak about values and a clean slate, or whether to speak mathematically,” Sinkevičius said earlier in the week.
Political analyst Matas Baltrukevičius said Sinkevičius’ rhetoric was notable but understandable, suggesting it was aimed at tempering Žemaitaitis’ enthusiasm while avoiding cornering the Social Democrats.
“I found it a bit strange that Sinkevičius framed it as quantity versus quality, since that implies that quality means working without Nemunas Dawn. He was sending an opposite message to the Democrats – that their concerns are understood – while signalling that a choice still has to be made about what is best,” Baltrukevičius explained.
Nomination confirmed
On Thursday, Nausėda signed a decree formally nominating Ruginienė as prime minister. He said the priority was ensuring enough votes in parliament to confirm her candidacy. The composition of the coalition will also determine changes in the cabinet.
“I maintain the position I expressed eight or nine months ago, that if Nemunas Dawn participates in the coalition, their party nominees should not be proposed as ministers,” the president said.
Ruginienė said she discussed possible government changes with Nausėda but would not reveal ministerial names until after her confirmation as prime minister.
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
