Lithuanian coalition partner awaits formal notice and reasoning for alliance termination

The leader of Lithuania’s “Nemuno aušra” party, Remigijus Žemaitaitis, said Monday his faction has yet to receive official notification or explanation for the Social Democrats’ decision to dissolve their coalition agreement, reports BNS.

Žemaitaitis told the Baltic News Service that the Social Democrats must formally address the party during Tuesday’s parliamentary session to confirm the termination. “We would simply need to review the reasons, the motives behind the proposal to end the coalition agreement, and what arguments they present,” he said. “So far, we’ve heard no arguments and know nothing, so we’d like to familiarise ourselves with them.”

According to the coalition agreement signed last August, any party initiating termination must notify others at least one month in advance, followed by a one-month reconciliation period. Žemaitaitis said it remains unclear whether this procedure will be followed.

He also declined to specify when the party’s two ministers—Environment Minister Kastytis Žuromskas and Agriculture Minister Andrius Palionis—might lose their posts, suggesting a full cabinet reshuffle could occur. “Based on available information, it seems that once the prime minister submits her resignation, the rest of the ministers will likely step down as well,” he said.

The Social Democrats’ governing council decided over the weekend to exclude “Nemuno aušra” from the coalition, inviting the Democratic Union “Vardan Lietuvos” to negotiations instead. The party has two weeks to respond.

“Nemuno aušra” holds 18 seats in the Seimas and joined the ruling coalition in November 2024 after parliamentary elections. Tensions escalated following the party’s opposition to a military training ground in Kapčiamestis and Žemaitaitis’s public criticism of Social Democrat ministers, as well as his prior conviction for antisemitic remarks.

Social Democrat leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius confirmed he had decided to end the partnership over a month ago but delayed the announcement to avoid overshadowing a public event. Meanwhile, Democratic Union MP Agnė Širinskienė expressed scepticism about joining the coalition, citing distrust in the Social Democrats.