The Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrat (TS-LKD) leadership is unwilling to work in a coalition with the Lithuanian Peasant and Greens Union (LVŽS) who won the Seimas election. In part this is due to a Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) report on Ramūnas Karbauskis’ links to Russia, claim sources in the party.
“There was talk of a report from the Ukrainian services, but they are not highlighting it. Overall many are laughing – it’s just the Ukrainian intelligence. This isn’t the British intelligence. Perhaps this is the Kremlin attempting to add fuel to the fire? But the leadership are not highlighting it. If it was something like that, I am pretty sure they would say Jesus Christ,” mused on party representative.
The politician, who was unwilling to divulge his name, claims that the main reason why the conservative leaders are unwilling to join a coalition with Ramūnas Karbauskis and Saulius Skvernelis, it is that the Peasant and Greens Union would be the senior partner, while the Conservatives – the junior partner.
“The main reason is that R. Karbauskis is big, while we are small. It is said that we cannot discredit our name, we cannot control him. That is the main reason,” he said.
Using the Russian card
Member of Seimas Jurgis Razma admits he has heard talks of information from Ukraine, but claims to not have seen any such document. According to the Conservative this was not presented in party meetings either.
“Well I have heard some sort of talks, but personally I have not seen such a report,” stated the politician, adding that he does not believe that such a report could have been officially submitted at all.
Deputy party Chairwoman Irena Degutienė also says she has heard talks, but was unable to confirm the information, stating that „On the level of rumours I have heard of it, but when I asked “Have you seen such a document or anything?“, nobody had seen anything of the kind. It is just these sort of rumours floating around.”
The Conservatives have often pulled the card of R. Karbauskis having connections to Russia. They feel doubt because one of Karbauskis’ Agrokoncernas Group companies Agrokoncernas represents the Russian concern Acron in Lithuania and sells Russian fertiliser. The company registered by Acron owner Viatcheslav Kantor in Switzerland, according to analyst Marius Laurinavičius, is identified by Swiss intelligence as being founded by Russian foreign intelligence.
However Karbauskis has said that in this case his company only sold the Russian company’s fertilisers and this, according to his knowledge, is done by a number of Lithuanian companies.
Karbauskis received accusations over his brother Mindaugas Karbauskis who works as the art manager of the Moscow V. Majakovski theatre.
The Conservatives even raised a condition that if a coalition agreement is to be signed with the Peasant Greens, all signing leaders should be investigated by the special services.
Some want a coalition, others don’t
According to one Conservative, almost the whole of the TS-LKD leadership is unwilling to partner with the LVŽS, but the lower rung is because the state gave a sufficient mandate.
Among the ranks of the Homeland Union this is threatening to turn into a minor clash. The party initially was prepared to have a presidium hearing at 2pm on Friday, but on Tuesday evening after meeting, the new members of Seimas decided that Friday may be an inconvenient day for a presidium hearing.
Presidium member Arvydas Anušauskas says that on Tuesday most of the presidium members decided not to meet on Friday. According to Delfi information, the party executive secretary Monika Navickienė distributed a letter which informed that the presidium hearing is moved to next week.
However J. Razma states that the presidium can only be cancelled by the party chairman. Those seeking to discuss coalition opportunities or even hoping for a coalition with the “Peasants” were particularly interested in such a meeting. They have even collected signatures, requesting for such a hearing to be held.
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