Lithuanian president calls for coalition changes after defence policy vote

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has urged the ruling coalition to seek new partners after members of the governing “Nemuno Aušra” party voted against a key defence bill, national broadcaster LRT reports.

Speaking to TV3 News on Wednesday, Nausėda questioned the viability of a coalition where partners hold opposing values, particularly on national security. His comments followed a vote on the Kapčiamiesčio military training ground legislation, where seven “Nemuno Aušra” MPs opposed the bill alongside three from the Farmers and Greens Union.

“When one of the coalition parties allows its members to vote however they please—and the party leader openly votes against—it raises serious questions about whether this coalition stands for anything,” Nausėda stated. He emphasised that Lithuania’s state security is a fundamental value for national survival.

The president stressed that alternatives to the current coalition exist and urged the Social Democratic Party, the largest faction in parliament, to evaluate them seriously. “There’s no need to wait indefinitely or claim the time isn’t right,” he said. “These alternatives existed before, they exist now, and they will in the future.”

The Kapčiamiesčio training ground bill passed with 102 votes in favour, 10 against, and 5 abstentions. The opposition included seven “Nemuno Aušra” MPs and three from the Farmers and Greens Union.

Nausėda also addressed recent calls from US Special Envoy to Belarus John Coale for Lithuania to engage in direct political dialogue with Minsk. The president insisted that any talks would require prior goodwill gestures from Belarus, including halting migrant flows, ending balloon attacks, and releasing political prisoners.

“Only if we see concrete steps—no migrants, no balloons, and the safe return of political prisoners—can we consider this a sign of goodwill and begin dialogue,” Nausėda said. His remarks follow a record 34 illegal migrant crossings from Belarus in a single day and repeated disruptions at Vilnius Airport due to contraband balloons.