MP Vilija Targamadzė leaves Democratic faction over broken committee promise

MP Vilija Targamadzė is leaving the opposition Democratic faction For Lithuania after the party failed to secure her a seat on the Seimas Education and Science Committee, LRT reports.

Targamadzė, who returned to parliament in late April, announced her decision on Thursday, stating that her move was directly tied to the unfulfilled commitment. “I am an education professional,” she told BNS. “When I was invited [to join the faction], I was promised a position on the Education and Science Committee.”

The MP, who holds a doctorate in education sciences, emphasised her academic and administrative experience, noting she had returned to the Seimas specifically to contribute to resolving education sector challenges. “Since I cannot secure this position within the Democratic faction, I must make other choices,” she said.

Targamadzė is now considering joining either the Mixed Group of Seimas Members or one of the ruling factions, both of which she believes would guarantee her the desired committee role. Her departure will reduce the Democratic faction’s membership to 13.

Targamadzė previously served in the Seimas during the last term and has worked as an academic at Vilnius University and the former Vilnius Pedagogical University. She entered parliament in April after Democrat Giedrius Jeglinskas resigned his seat.