Ruling parties’ MPs plan to sign memorandum on cooperation in fall session

Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis and Andrius Palionis, head of the LSDP group, agreed on this on Wednesday.

The memorandum is planned to be signed before the LSDP’s branches complete voting on whether or not to withdraw from the ruling coalition with the LFGU.

“I don’t think the political group needs permission or mandate from the party’s chairman,” Palionis told reporters.

According to him, the deal will not run counter to the party’s will as the LSDP council’s decision to form the ruling coalition with the LSDP is still in effect.

Palionis expects the LSDP council to hold a meeting in October after the Sept. 20 deadline for all branches to state their position has passed.

“There is no decision yet for us to leave the coalition. I think the council’s meeting will take place in October and neither you nor I know what decision it will make. So, we cannot wait until October and do nothing,” he said.

According to Skvernelis, the political groups will set out in the agreement the key tasks for the fall session, including passing next year’s budget, tax changes and measures to reduce social exclusion and poverty.

“We still have the coalition, rather than a minority government, and the coalition agreement is in force. If the partners need such an agreement (memorandum), I think we have to discuss and possibly sign it,” the LFGU-appointed prime minister told reporters.

LSDP Chairman Gintautas Paluckas has asked all of the party’s branches to state their position on whether or not the party should pull out of the government coalition. The party’s council will then make a final decision.