Lithuanian parliament debates first fuel price proposals: “We’re not months behind—we’re years behind”

The Lithuanian parliament (Seimas) has begun reviewing the government’s emergency proposals to temporarily reduce diesel excise duty, with lawmakers set to vote Thursday on a 6-cent-per-litre cut, LRT reports. Meanwhile, a presidential initiative to introduce daily price caps—modeled on Belgium’s system—faces scrutiny, with critics arguing both measures come too late and will have minimal impact on soaring fuel costs.

Drivers like Valerijus, a 25-year taxi veteran, told LRT at a Vilnius filling station that current diesel prices are unprecedented. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said, adding just 10 euros’ worth of fuel to his tank. His outlook was grim: “It could get even worse—just look at the war in Iran.”

The government’s proposal would trim diesel prices by 6 cents per litre if approved in Thursday’s fast-track vote, with final adoption expected by week’s end. Aušrinė Norkienė, deputy speaker of the Seimas, welcomed the move but noted Lithuania lags behind neighboring states: “We’ve been watching their decisions all week. We need to ensure our model works.”

Opposition lawmakers dismissed the timeliness of the measures. Viktoras Fiodorovas, a member of the Seimas Economic Committee, warned the June 1 implementation date means “we’re not just a month behind—we’re months, even years behind.” He stressed the urgency of finding mechanisms to lower prices for both consumers and businesses.

President Gitanas Nausėda’s team has pushed for a “Belgian-style” daily price cap system, with advisor Vaidas Augustinavičius telling parliament the president expects the law to pass within a month. “We’ve been discussing this with ministers for some time,” he said, acknowledging the need for government input and “productive cooperation.”

Finance Minister Kristupas Vaitiekūnas cautioned that such caps carry market risks. “It’s worth considering, but everyone must understand the core driver of price hikes is global oil costs and diesel shortages,” he said.

The ruling coalition and opposition traded criticism over the proposals. Seimas Budget Committee chair Algirdas Sysas called the president’s draft “likely AI-generated,” citing nine pages of legal objections from the Justice Department. “We’ll examine it seriously and, if needed, incorporate elements into the government’s bill,” he said.

Former finance minister Gintarė Skaistė, now deputy chair of the Budget Committee, dismissed both plans as “microscopic measures with no real effect.” She argued global factors—like former US President Donald Trump’s social media posts—have greater influence than domestic policies, while daily caps would only shield against short-term fluctuations tied to wholesale prices.

Lukas Savickas of the Democratic Party supported the steps but called for faster action and long-term planning. “We need to prepare a heavier-caliber response,” he said, criticizing the lack of forward-looking scenarios.