Lithuanian president pushing to return Democrats to ruling coalition, says coalition partner leader

The leader of Lithuania’s Nemuno Aušra (Dawn of Nemunas) party has accused President Gitanas Nausėda of making significant efforts to bring the Democratic Union “For Lithuania” back into the ruling coalition or to forge new ties with conservatives, LRT reports.

Remigijus Žemaitaitis, the party’s chairman, suggested the president may be acting out of “nostalgia” for former Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis, whose Democrats left the coalition in 2025. “I see the president is truly striving to return For Lithuania to the coalition—both in the Presidential Palace’s comments and statements,” Žemaitaitis told Žinių Radijas on Wednesday.

He dismissed the speculation as political maneuvering, adding: “If men want to form a different coalition, they should do it quickly, without deceiving people and playing these games.”

His remarks follow Nausėda’s recent claim that social democrats are consulting with potential coalition partners—the Democrats—to replace Nemuno Aušra in the majority. Democratic Union leader Saulius Skvernelis neither confirmed nor denied ongoing negotiations with the ruling Social Democrats (LSDP) for a new coalition.

The Democrats were part of the governing alliance from winter 2024 until summer 2025, when Gintautas Paluckas’s social democrat-led cabinet resigned. LSDP leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius has stated that coalition changes will be discussed at the party council in April, though the social democrats do not seek a minority government.

Tensions over Nemuno Aušra’s role flared after its MPs, including Žemaitaitis, opposed the Kapčiamiestis military training ground in Lazdijai district. Sinkevičius called the dissent “unacceptable,” but Žemaitaitis remains firm: “Personally, I absolutely oppose it. Look at neighboring countries, look at Iran—without air defense systems and greater public security funding, we can postpone this polygon for five or six years.”

The Kapčiamiestis base is part of Lithuania’s plan to establish a national division and host a German brigade, requiring expanded training grounds. Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas has said military exercises there could begin by 2028.

The current ruling majority—comprising the LSDP, Nemuno Aušra, and the Farmers-Greens-Christian Union—holds 81 seats in the 141-member Seimas.

Žemaitaitis also criticized Nausėda’s leadership on fuel price compensation amid regional tensions, questioning whether Lithuania has effective representation in the EU. “I admire the president’s leadership—he attends European Council meetings, but I’ve heard no discussion on compensating for Iran’s war or EU mechanisms for this period,” he said. “Does Lithuania have someone advocating for us in Brussels? Today, I don’t see it.”