Lithuanian opposition questions new ruling majority

A new ruling coalition in Lithuania’s parliament, the Seimas, now holds 75 seats—the smallest majority of the current term—after the Social Democratic Party (LSDP), the Farmers and Greens Union, and the Democrats signed a fresh agreement, LRT reports.

The coalition, reshaped for the third time, includes the same Social Democrats and Farmers and Greens, but replaces the previous partner, the Freedom Party, with the Democrats. Mindaugas Sinkevičius, the likely next prime minister, acknowledged past coalitions struggled with visible tension but claimed the current mood is different. The new agreement’s first clause commits partners to avoid public disputes.

Opposition leaders, however, remain skeptical. Liberal Movement faction head Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen noted the slim majority will amplify the opposition’s influence, while conservative Gintarė Skaistė urged clarity on the coalition’s true stability, calling its stated goals “noble but expensive.”

The coalition’s priorities include strengthening national defense, with Russia explicitly named as a threat, restoring relations with China, and focusing on air defense and the presence of US troops. Economic measures will follow these security concerns.

Disagreements are already evident. The Farmers and Greens will not support a proposed partnership law, and Sinkevičius has ruled out pushing it forward without broader consensus. The coalition also faces early tests, such as an opposition-initiated parliamentary investigation into a data breach at the State Enterprise Centre of Registers, which Democrats previously backed.

“Answers are needed—not to assign blame, but to understand what investments are required,” said Virginijus Sinkevičius of the Democrats. Social Democratic leader Juozas Olekas suggested there may still be room to reconsider the opposition’s approach to the probe.