Former Freedom Party leader: Nemuno Aušra’s presence in government benefits all parliamentary parties

The presence of the Nemuno Aušra party in Lithuania’s ruling coalition is advantageous for all political forces in the Seimas, despite its pro-Russian stance, former Freedom Party leader Aušrinė Armonaitė said in an interview with LRT’s *ELTA Kampas* programme.

Armonaitė, who previously served as economy and innovation minister in Ingrida Šimonytė’s centre-right government, stated that while she would prefer Nemuno Aušra not to be part of the coalition, its continued participation serves the interests of all parliamentary parties—both ruling and opposition.

She argued that the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP), the coalition’s leading force, has little incentive to break ties with Nemuno Aušra, as doing so would disrupt the established balance of power. Renegotiating coalition agreements and redistributing political posts with limited time before the next Seimas elections would be “unattractive,” she said.

The opposition, too, benefits from Nemuno Aušra’s presence, according to Armonaitė, as it provides a clear political adversary against which to define its own positions. “They have an ideal opponent to highlight their stance,” she noted.

Nemuno Aušra leader Remigijus Žemaitaitis, however, stands to gain if the party is expelled from the coalition, Armonaitė suggested. Such a move would allow him to “cultivate resentment” and position himself as a victim of the political system, potentially boosting support among voters disillusioned with the establishment. She predicted that Žemaitaitis might even voluntarily leave the coalition ahead of the elections if not forced out earlier.

The LSDP is expected to decide on the future of its coalition with Nemuno Aušra during a party council meeting this weekend. Party chairman Mindaugas Sinkevičius has prepared three potential scenarios for moving forward. Tensions within the coalition escalated after some governing partners failed to support the establishment of a military training ground in Kapčiamestis. While Sinkevičius had previously signalled his position on the matter, he has yet to publicly outline his stance on the coalition’s future.

Criticism of the alliance with Nemuno Aušra has come from within the LSDP itself, as well as from President Gitanas Nausėda. Last month, the Financial Crime Investigation Service conducted searches as part of an ongoing investigation, though no direct link to the coalition dispute was confirmed.