“Conservative Lithuanian Government Coalition Leaders Propose Early Parliamentary Elections”

Conservative parties of the Lithuanian government coalition leaders Fatherland Union – Christian Democrats of Lithuaniawhich has the largest faction in the Seimas, proposed to organize early parliamentary elections on September 10.

On Friday, such a draft decision was registered in the Seimas by a group of conservative MPs, which includes party chairman and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielus Landsbergis, Prime Minister Ingrīda Šimonīte and leader of the party’s Seimas faction Radvile Morkunaite-Mikuļeniene.

“We have just registered the draft decision of the Seimas on early elections,” Landsbergis informed at the press conference.

He explained that the reasons for such a proposal are clear and have been stated several times before. “This is related to the situation that has arisen both in local governments and in the Seimas, and the problems it creates in the country as a whole, in its political system,” the politician said.

The parliament is expected to vote on the draft decision “in the first or second week of June”, however, a specific date has not yet been set, the party chairman said.

Landsbergis admitted that the party has not yet decided whether the vote on the announcement of early parliamentary elections will be mandatory for faction members.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs refused to comment on whether the current government coalition, which in addition to the conservatives also includes the Liberal Movement and the Freedom Party, could survive even if the Seimas rejects early elections and the Prime Minister resigns.

“Publicly, we only talk about the prime minister’s next step, that is, if the Seimas decides that the Seimas meets the transparency requirements, then the prime minister will resign and then the measures provided for in the constitution will follow, such as the appointment of a temporary prime minister and discussions in the Seimas,” Landsbergis said, adding that as to whether the coalition will continue, “a whole spectrum of options is possible”.

The draft decision registered in the Seimas states that doubts about the transparency of municipal politicians’ expenses “negatively affect trust in all parties represented in parliament and all political institutions in power”.

In the assessment of the “Union of the Fatherland – Christian Democrats of Lithuania”, the imperfect system that allows members of local government councils to abuse benefits “creates preconditions for questioning the legitimacy of the Seimas, the government and the political system” and the mandate of citizens’ trust must be restored.

It has already been announced that in connection with possible non-transparent use of funding in local government councils Fatherland Union – Christian Democrats of Lithuania the presidium decided a week ago to initiate early parliamentary elections.

If the proposal does not get the support of the Seimas, it is proposed to consider the resignation of the government of Prime Minister Šimonīte, who represents the conservative party. Šimonite herself has expressed her readiness to resign after the NATO summit in Vilnius.

Early elections in Lithuania can be announced if at least 85 of the 141 members of the Seimas support it.

The next parliamentary elections in Lithuania are scheduled for autumn next year.

Journalist and activist Andrjus Tapins wrote on Facebook last week that the former Minister of Education, Science and Sports Jurgita Šugždiniene, who was a member of the Kaunas Municipal Council in 2019-2020, received a 13,800-euro allowance from the municipality before becoming the Minister of Education. .

Tapin expressed his suspicion that such an amount “cannot be substantiated in any way as expenses related to the activity of a deputy”.

The minister’s resignation was accepted this week by President Gitans Nausėda, who has called for the resignation of two more ministers – Minister of Finance Gintari šaris ​​and Minister of Culture Simon Kairi – who are also involved in the scandal of possible embezzlement of municipal funds.

The partners of the conservative coalition, the Liberal Movement and the Freedom Party, have expressed their skepticism towards the plan to announce early elections. There is no consensus in the “Union of the Fatherland – Christian Democrats of Lithuania” itself either.

Most of the opposition parties have admitted that they agree in principle to holding early elections, however, the resignation of the government is necessary first.

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