Experts predict an early Seimas election

So far Ramūnas Karbauskis has been speaking of a broad coalition, with the Conservatives (TS-LKD) sitting on his right and the Social Democrats (LSDP) on his left. However neither of the two veteran parties want such a coalition. The two parties are not in a rush to partner with the Peasant Greens individually either, Alfa.lt reported.

“We have a very peculiar situation, where neither the LSDP, nor the TS-LKD are in a rush to join the coalition because logically speaking, being underfoot to Karbauskis and his company is definitely unappealing. Furthermore, the TS-LKD ambitions were tied to the post of PM. This is a logical reaction. Furthermore, what can you achieve in a coalition, the stability of which is in great doubt,” said political scientist Rima Urbonaitė.

With the expectant Conservatives left disappointed, members of the incumbent coalition remain. Ramūnas Karbauskis has announced that he would not work with either Order and Justice or the Labour Party, while not ruling out potential to partner with the Social Democrats. To them, this opportunity to stay in power despite the election catastrophe, could appear rather appealing.

“The highest likelihood is that they will make a deal with the Social Democrats. The LSDP will get disproportionately many seats, but that always happens when they are necessary to form a coalition, so they will get what they want. But there’s an obstacle. The President has expressed a need for a transparent and effective coalition, hinting that she is unwilling to see the Social Democrats in it. But you have to remember that four years ago she was firmly against a cabinet with the Labour Party in it, but Labour managed to enter,” said political analyst Kęstutis Girnius.

Another spark of dispute could be the candidates to minister posts proposed by Ramūnas Karbauskis. The “Peasant” chairman mentioned that former mayor of Ignalina, now Member of European Parliament Bronis Ropė could become PM, while Saulius Skvernelis is positioned as a potential candidate to both the PM and Seimas Speaker seats.