coalition partners struggle with unmet promises and rising tensions

Lithuanian Peasant and Greens Union (LVŽS) leader Aurelijus Veryga has acknowledged growing difficulties within the ruling coalition, citing unfulfilled promises by coalition partners and unresolved disputes.

Speaking on the ELTA weekly programme, Veryga said that LVŽS members were finding it increasingly hard to work within the coalition, not only due to tensions with the “Nemuno aušra” faction but also because of unmet commitments by the Social Democrats.

“We are struggling in the coalition. And we are struggling not only because of ‘Nemuno aušra’ but also because of issues related to our main coalition partner, the Social Democrats, that remain unresolved,” Veryga said. “Promises have been made, but they have not been kept. So, I would say our sense of how the coalition is doing is tied to whether we succeed or fail in fulfilling, first and foremost, the commitments we ourselves made in the coalition agreement. And we associate the coalition’s future and its success or failure with that.”

Despite the challenges, Veryga stressed that LVŽS members were striving to work constructively and remain within the bounds of tolerance.

“So far, colleagues are indeed trying to work in a matter-of-fact way, not giving in to emotions or judging one another, but simply trying to get done the work we have promised to our voters,” he said. “So far, colleagues are living within the limits of tolerance and can still work together.”

Veryga also expressed uncertainty over how non-LVŽS members of the parliamentary faction would vote on the proposed Kapčiamiestis military training ground, following President Gitanas Nausėda’s warning that failure to reach a consensus on the issue could undermine the coalition’s purpose.

“I can speak for our party because we have discussed this issue in our party council and there has definitely been no divergence of opinion,” Veryga said. “As for those who do not belong to our party, I cannot speak for them. I cannot influence them, and I do not know how they will vote.”

He added that regardless of the vote, the decision on whether the coalition continues to exist would rest with the Social Democrats, the largest party in the ruling majority.

“With all due respect to the institution of the presidency, it is not the president who forms the ruling majority. The ruling majority is formed by those who received the most votes—in this case, the Social Democrats. And it will be their decision if any coalition partner decides to vote differently on the Kapčiamiestis issue,” Veryga said.

He expressed confidence that the military training ground proposal would ultimately gain parliamentary approval, noting broad support for defence-related agreements.

President Nausėda earlier stated that coalition partners must reach a joint decision on the Kapčiamiestis training ground, warning that otherwise the coalition would lose its essence. The “Nemuno aušra” faction has previously indicated it would not support the proposal, while Social Democratic leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius suggested that opposition to the project could become a “red line” affecting future cooperation.