Politics
Corruption scandals hit government and prime minister’s ratings
Corruption suspicions in several Lithuanian ministries have severely damaged the government’s ratings, a new poll shows. Popularity of Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius and his party, the Social Democrats, has suffered as well. […]
Former Lithuanian interior minister cleared in genocide case of last Lithuanian partisan
On Thursday, Lithuania’s Supreme Court issued a final ruling acquitting former Lithuanian Interior Minister Marijonas Misiukonis in a genocide case for his part in arresting Antanas Kraujelis-Siaubūnas, who is considered to have been the last member of the armed Lithuanian resistance movement. […]
Critical situation in education system, President Grybauskaitė says
Teachers’ unions and the government should find an agreement by means of a dialogue and not by demonstrating a “force position”, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė says. […]
Exchange of threats after second attempt at holding extraordinary Seimas session fails
The Seimas of Lithuania assembled for an extraordinary session on Thursday, but it ended shortly after the agenda, proposed by the opposition, was voted down. The indignant opposition says it will turn to the Constitutional Court. In retaliation, the Seimas speaker has threatened with disciplinary action over “disrespect” for the national anthem. […]
Extraordinary Seimas session was not ended properly, commission rules
Parliamentary procedures were violated when an extraordinary plenary session, initiated by the opposition, was ended abruptly last week, the Seimas Commission for Ethics and Procedures said on Wednesday. […]
Ethics commission to investigate early end to Seimas extraordinary session
The Seimas Commission for Ethics and Procedures will convene to investigate the disputes surrounding the abrupt ending of the extraordinary Seimas session called for by the opposition last week. […]
Ruling coalition wants social model proposal passed as soon as possible
Lithuania’s ruling coalition says its parties have agreed that the social model liberalizing the labor market should be approved as soon as possible. The issue was discussed at the ruling coalition’s political council on Tuesday. […]
Social Democrat Juras Požela proposed for healthcare minister
The Board of the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania decided on Monday to nominate Juras Požela, 33, for the position of healthcare minister, Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius, Social Democratic leader, told journalists after the meeting. […]
Teachers’ wage dispute causes government rift as Social Democrats accuse Labour Party of deceit
On Tuesday, the Social Democratic party will hold a political council meeting to ascertain whether the Labour Party supports the Government’s decisions regarding teachers’ wages and the social model being considered by the Seimas (parliament). […]
Opposition challenges constitutionality of impeachment procedure
Opposition parties at the Lithuanian parliament have drafted an appeal to the Constitutional Court, challenging the impeachment procedure against members of parliament and judges. […]
Finance minister steps in as acting minister of healthcare
Finance Minister Rimantas Šadžius is stepping in as acting head of the Ministry of Healthcare until a replacement for Minister Rimantė Šalaševičiūtė is found. The prime minister has said he has two candidates in mind, but would not reveal the names before the end of February. […]
Blocking Seimas debates is ‘ploy to hide problems in government’, President Grybauskaitė says
By blocking the opposition’s attempts to hold an extraordinary parliamentary session, the ruling coalition is trying to shift the focus away from problems faced by the incumbent government, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė said on Wednesday. […]
Interior Minister Skvernelis to run for MP seat with Social Democrats
Interior Minister Saulius Skvernelis, who has seen his approval ratings soar in recent months, has reportedly decided to throw his lot with the Social Democratic Party for the coming general elections this October. […]
Extraordinary parliament session ends one hour after beginning
The Seimas of Lithuania ended the extraordinary session called for by the opposition one hour after it began, after MPs voted down the proposed agenda. […]
Lithuanian parliament convenes for extraordinary session
The Seimas of Lithuania is gathering for an extraordinary session on Wednesday to decide on whether to launch an impeachment process against Labour Party MP Vytautas Gapšys who has been sentenced in the party’s fraudulent bookkeeping case. […]
Liberal Movement pick best among its ranks
The Liberal Movement party, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, distributed awards to the best members of the party. Vilnius Mayor Remigijus Šimašius was named the politician of the year for 2015. […]
Polish party suggests changing election rules to favour ethnic minority representatives
The Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania party has proposed an amendment to electoral laws that would lower the threshold for ethnic minority parties to win parliament seats. […]
MEP Guoga to give up Australian citizenship ahead of elections in Lithuania
Lithuanian MEP Antanas Guoga, member of the Liberal Movement party, says he has decided to renounce his Australian citizenship. The move might allow him to run for a seat in the Lithuanian parliament, but Guoga says it is not the reason he decided to do it. […]
