Lithuanian parliament extends spring session to approve new government

The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has extended its spring session until July 14 to allow time to approve the programme of the new government and grant powers to the cabinet led by Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius, LRT reports.

In a vote on Tuesday, 59 MPs supported the extension, five opposed it, and 15 abstained. The decision enables the Seimas to hold two additional sittings—on July 7 and July 14—to finalise the government’s formation.

Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas said the extra time would allow parliament to confirm the government and its programme while also engaging with voters. “I think we can complete the necessary work in these two sessions to form and approve the government and its programme, and also have some time to communicate with our voters, listen to their ideas, so that in the autumn we can return to plenary sessions even better prepared to work for the country,” Olekas said.

Under the Constitution, the Seimas normally holds two regular sessions per year: the spring session runs from March 10 to June 30, and the autumn session from September 10 to December 23. The parliament has the authority to extend sessions when needed.

The new government is being formed following a reshuffle of the ruling coalition, after the Social Democrats ended their agreement with the “Nemuno aušra” party and invited the Democrats to join the majority. The Seimas confirmed Sinkevičius, leader of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, as the new prime minister on Tuesday. For the new government to begin work, the Seimas must approve its programme and the appointed ministers must take their oaths of office.

The centre-left coalition currently holds 75 seats in the 141-member parliament.