Social democrats and farmers’ party councils to decide on coalition with Democrats

The Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) and the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union are set to hold council meetings on Tuesday to decide on forming a coalition with the Democratic Union “For Lithuania,” reports BNS.

The social democrats also expect clarity on whether their party leader, Mindaugas Sinkevičius, will take over as prime minister, replacing Inga Ruginienė.

Orinta Leiputė, the elder of the LSDP faction in the Seimas, told BNS that the council will vote to approve or reject the new coalition agreement. Robertas Duchnevičius, the first deputy chairman of the LSDP and mayor of Vilnius District, added that discussions may also address the prime minister’s candidacy.

Aušrinė Norkienė, the first deputy chair of the Farmers and Greens Union, confirmed that their council will also consider the new coalition agreement, which was agreed upon by the leaders of the three parties on Monday.

Under the proposed coalition, the Democrats would take the ministries of Energy, Health, and Agriculture. The Farmers and Greens, along with the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania–Christian Families Alliance, would retain the ministries of Justice, Economy, and Innovation. The remaining nine ministries—Environment, Finance, Defence, Culture, Social Security and Labour, Transport, Education, Science and Sports, Foreign Affairs, and Interior—would go to the LSDP.

Earlier in June, the social democrats decided to terminate their coalition agreement with “Nemuno Aušra” and invited the Democratic Union “For Lithuania” to join the majority. The new ruling majority in the Seimas would consist of 75 members from the social democrats, Democrats, and Farmers and Greens.