Lithuanian Farmers and Greens leader praises Social Democrats’ decision to exclude “Nemuno Aušra” from coalition

The leader of the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVŽS), Aurelijus Veryga, has welcomed the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania’s (LSDP) decision to end cooperation with the “Nemuno Aušra” political group, calling the timing of the move “wise,” *ELTA* reports.

Speaking on Saturday, Veryga said the decision was made at an appropriate moment, given the upcoming EU presidency and ongoing government work. “We respect the decision in any case,” he said. “When consultations begin, we’ll discuss what else might change. But I believe the timing is right—if changes are to be made, they should be done sooner rather than later.”

The LVŽS leader expressed cautious optimism that the coalition’s work without “Nemuno Aušra” could become “calmer and more constructive,” though he acknowledged it was too early to predict specifics. “Hopefully, there will be fewer distractions from core tasks,” he added.

The LSDP council decided on Saturday to restructure the ruling coalition, excluding “Nemuno Aušra” and initiating talks with the Democratic Union “For Lithuania.” The party cited persistent political tensions and reputational risks as reasons for the split, stating that the current coalition no longer met standards for stable governance.

A negotiating team—including Mindaugas Sinkevičius, Robertas Duchnevičius, and others—has been tasked with finalizing terms with the Democratic Union within two weeks. Sinkevičius, the union’s acting leader, confirmed readiness to “take responsibility for the state,” though he stressed his party was not actively seeking to join the coalition.

President Gitanas Nausėda also endorsed the LSDP’s move, urging a swift government reshuffle. The coalition’s strain had intensified after disagreements over the establishment of a military training ground in Kapčiamiestis.