Politics
Politics
Opinion
Will high approval ratings for social democrats translate into election gains?
As the general elections approach, Lithuania’s political parties have become acutely aware of fluctuations in their popularity ratings. The social democrats, the biggest party in the current ruling coalition, continue to top survey results, but will that translate into votes and, eventually, into parliamentary seats? […]
Politics
Conservative leader Landsbergis refutes suggestions he might not run for parliament
MEP Gabrielius Landsbergis, the leader of the conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, says he will definitely run in this year’s general elections, refuting earlier suggestions that there might be conditions for his giving up a seat in the European Parliament for one in the Lithuanian Seimas. […]
Politics
Local rules need to be explained to refugees, president’s advisor says
“Cultural norms” and laws will have to be explained to refugees who will be resettled in Lithuania, says Lithuanian president’s chief foreign policy adviser Renaldas Vaisbrodas. […]
Politics
New citizenship rules open to subjective judgements by President, say politicians
The new citizenship law which allows for certain Lithuanians with special merit to hold dual citizenship with another country, cannot prevent subjectivity when it comes to decisions on allowing people to maintain or recover national citizenship, according to parliamentarians Stasys Šedbaras and Julius Sabatauskas. […]
Politics
U-turn by president may make her election target, say analysts
President Dalia Grybauskaitė‘s U-turn on establishing a new agency to tackle suicide, alcoholism and violence in families in Lithuania may make her a target during the coming election campaign. […]
Politics
Overtime rules and other labour code changes being discussed by Seimas
This week, the Seimas Committee on Social Affairs and Labour deliberated on changes to the Labour Code and approved the majority of new types of labour contracts that were proposed. The committee also approved a new maximum overtime amount of 180 hours per year and ensured that these would be paid for as well. […]
Politics
Is Minister of Finance Rimantas Šadžius guaranteed an EU auditor’s post in Luxembourg?
Though a wave of discontent spread though the ruling coalition when Minister of Finance Rimantas Šadžius was appointed to be Lithuania’s representative to the EU’s Court of Auditors, it seems like those waves are subsiding. […]
Politics
Candidacy for Finance Minister will not be negotiated, says PM
Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius said there would be no negotiation with his coalition partners of a replacement for Social Democrat Finance Minister Rimantas Šadžius, who has been proposed as a candidate for the membership at the European Court of Auditors. […]
Politics
President’s speech focus on administration not strategy misguided, say experts
President Dalia Grybauskaitė annual press conference appeared more like a speech from an administrator rather than a politician, with a focus on administrative issues like control, inspection and better enforcement, Vilnius University professor Romas Lazutka told LRT Radijas. […]
Politics
Lithuanian PM wants Labour Code reforms adopted in spring
Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius hopes that the Lithuanian Parliament will adopt the new social model, a package of Labour Code and welfare system reforms, in its spring session which commences in March. […]
Politics
President Grybauskaitė sceptical about ‘excessive’ Labour Code reform package
President Dalia Grybauskaitė is critical about the so-called social model, an ambitious Labour Code reform undertaken by the current government. The package of laws was drafted and submitted to parliament last year, but has yet to be adopted. […]
Politics
President Grybauskaitė retracts call for new child welfare institution
Having suggested to set up a new institution to deal with children in at-risk families, President Dalia Grybauskaitė retracted her words, insisting her proposal was rather to institute additional functions that could be carried out by existing bodies. […]
Politics
Lukoil’s ’emissaries’ will stay in Lithuania, says President
Even after the Russian company Lukoil pulls out of the Lithuanian market, it will still maintain a presence in the country, President Dalia Grybauskaitė said. […]
Politics
PM Butkevičius promises more measures to fight alcohol consumption
The ban on selling alcohol in petrol stations, which came into effect on January 1, is just a “small step” in the effort against alcoholism, says Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius. He adds that the government will take more measures to cut the use of alcohol. […]
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Politics
Labour Party leader Mazuronis vows to stay in leader’s position until after elections
Labour Party leader, MEP Valentinas Mazuronis said he has no intention of withdrawing from the party leader‘s position until after parliamentary elections. […]
Politics
Parliament speaker criticises president’s proposal for new care agency
Parliament Speaker Loreta Graužinienė disagrees with President Dalia Grybauskaitė‘s proposal to establish a new institution to ensure care for social risk families in response to the tragic events in Kėdainiai district. […]
Politics
Politicians have ‘written off countryside’ and ‘worship free market’, says ex-presidential adviser
Social ills plaguing Lithuania’s regions – alcoholism, suicide, domestic violence, abuse of children and massive emigration – are as a result of “free market worship” and the government’s failure to address widening inequalities between the country’s thriving economic centres and periphery, said former adviser to the Lithuanian president Virginija Būdienė. […]
Politics
Lithuania moves forward with airline passenger registration
The Lithuanian government has endorsed a proposal to have airlines share information about all passengers arriving and leaving Lithuania with law enforcement institutions. The law, drafted by the Ministry of the Interior, is part of the country’s anti-terrorism effort. […]