Two MPs’ exit from ruling coalition called “politically logical” by party leader

The decision by lawmakers Ignas Vėgėlė and Rimas Jonas Jankūnas to leave the ruling Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVŽS) and Christian Families Union faction in parliament is “politically logical,” the coalition’s leader Aurelijus Veryga said Tuesday, as reported by BNS.

“Politically, this decision is logical because when people unite around an idea before elections, prepare a program, and then try to implement it, but over time see differences in policy or its execution, they choose to pursue their goals independently,” Veryga, the party’s chairman, told BNS.

Both MPs had the option to join LVŽS but opted for separate political paths, he added. Their departure leaves the joint faction with nine members, reducing the ruling coalition’s parliamentary support to 79 seats.

Vėgėlė cited a mismatch between pre-election promises and their implementation as the reason for leaving, while Jankūnas—elected this year as leader of the non-parliamentary Nation and Justice Union—said the faction had cooperated well but that he and Vėgėlė were deemed “undesirable.”

Veryga dismissed concerns about the coalition’s stability, noting that partners, including Social Democrat leader Vilenas, had been informed of the possible split. “This won’t be major news for anyone in the coalition,” he said.

Both MPs will continue working in the Mixed Group of Seimas members, which now has seven representatives.

Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas downplayed the move, stating that Mixed Group members “can still participate actively” in parliamentary work. “My role isn’t just about positions—I want broader consensus in the Seimas,” he added.