Seimas plans to extend spring session until July 14 due to government formation

The Lithuanian parliament, Seimas, is considering extending its spring session until July 14 to facilitate the formation of a new government, as reported by LRT and BNS.

Speaker of the Seimas Juozas Olekas announced on Thursday that the extension is likely necessary. “I would say that, most probably, we should extend it until July 14,” Olekas stated during a meeting of the Elders’ Council.

According to Olekas, two plenary sessions are required to present and approve the government’s program. He suggested that these could take place on July 2 and 7, or July 7 and 14.

The Constitution of Lithuania stipulates that the Seimas holds two regular sessions annually: the spring session, which runs from March 10 to June 30, and the autumn session, from September 10 to December 23. The Seimas has the authority to extend these sessions.

The need for a new government arises following a restructuring of the ruling coalition. The Social Democrats terminated their agreement with the “Nemuno aušra” party and invited the Democrats to form a new majority. As a result, the cabinet led by Social Democratic Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė ended its term on Tuesday.

The new majority has nominated Mindaugas Sinkevičius, the leader of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, as the candidate for Prime Minister. The center-left coalition currently holds 75 seats in the 141-member parliament.