The leader of the Nemunas Dawn party, Remigijus Žemaitis, has denied allegations that his party is pressuring coalition partners to back specific legislative projects in exchange for support for the Kapčiamiestis military training ground.
"There are no negotiations taking place –I repeat," Žemaitis told reporters on Tuesday when asked about a potential vote swap.
His comments follow remarks by Ligita Girskienė, head of the Farmers, Greens and Christian Families Union parliamentary group, who suggested that Nemunas Dawn may be attempting to blackmail the Social Democrats –leveraging support for the training ground to advance bills of particular importance to the party, such as amendments on cash payments.
In March, the Lithuanian Parliament Seimas approved the establishment of the Kapčiamiestis military training ground in Lazdijai district at its first reading, with 102 members of parliament voting in favour, 10 against and 6 abstaining.
All those who voted against came from the ruling majority, including 7 Nemunas Dawn members, among them Žemaitis himself, and 3 members of the Farmers, Greens and Christian Families Union.
Žemaitis reiterated on Tuesday that he remains personally opposed to the project.
"Remigijus Žemaitis voted against it and will continue to vote against the Kapčiamiestis training ground. If someone doesn't like it, they shouldn't be angry and shouldn't try to run my life," he said.
"I think it is clear to everyone that we should make better use of the existing Pabradė and Rudninkai training grounds. Let us work with those for four or five years and invest in an air defence system first," he added.
Žemaitis stopped short of promising additional votes from his group for the project, despite Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas expressing hope for broader support than was seen at the first reading.
Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė said in late March that strengthening national security requires investment in both air defence and the new Kapčiamiestis facility.
Retired German General Reinhard Wolski, head of the Berlin Security Conference, also urged Lithuania not to treat the construction of new training grounds and the reinforcement of air defences as competing priorities.
Lithuania is establishing the Kapčiamiestis site to accommodate a national division and the deployment of a German brigade, which requires additional space for military exercises.
Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas has said the military aims to begin manoeuvres there by 2028.
Žemaitis confirmed he would attend a coalition council meeting on Tuesday to discuss the spring parliamentary session agenda and the upcoming training ground vote. Social Democrat leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius has indicated that no changes to the coalition's composition are planned.
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