Lithuanian party leaders meet in Brussels to discuss new coalition

Leaders from Lithuania’s Social Democratic Party, Democratic Union “For Lithuania,” and the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union began coalition talks in Brussels on Tuesday, LRT reports.

The negotiations mark an unusual shift, as such discussions typically take place in Vilnius at the Seimas (parliament) or government offices. However, two of the three party leaders—Virginijus Sinkevičius (Democrats) and Aurelijus Veryga (Farmers and Greens)—currently serve as Members of the European Parliament, prompting the Brussels meeting. Social Democratic Party chairman Mindaugas Sinkevičius traveled to join them.

On Saturday, the Social Democrats’ council voted to terminate their coalition agreement with the “Nemunas Dawn” party and invited the Democrats to join the ruling majority, which currently includes the Social Democrats and the Farmers and Greens. The proposed new coalition would hold 75 seats in the 141-member Seimas, down from the current government’s 80.

Democrat branches reportedly backed the move in internal discussions, though the party’s board must still finalise the decision. Sinkevičius confirmed most local chapters supported entering coalition talks.

The shift follows weeks of political turbulence, including calls for the prime minister’s resignation and the exclusion of “Nemunas Dawn” from government.