Seimas’ speaker: SocDem MPs’ decision will secure stability

“This brings far more stability, and we should not be talking about instability, their decision will help ensuring stability and a parliamentary majority,” Pranckietis told journalists at the parliament on Monday.

“I believe it is a correct step, we god what we expected. The party’s decision was different but all Seimas members have a free mandate and a right to decide on the program they go with. As the program is a joint one of the Farmers and Green Union with the Social Democrats, they remain loyal to their program and will help implement it further,” said the parliamentary speaker.

After withdrawing from the ruling coalition over the weekend, the political group of the Social Democratic Party on Monday signed a cooperation agreement with the LFGU political group. The move was supported by 10 members of the Social Democratic Party group, while four were against and one abstained.

The party’s leader Gintautas Paluckas said he could not imagine further functioning of the political group, after some of the members signed an agreement with the LFGU.

“I cannot imagine how this should function, as the party’s decision had been made, the party’s statute still applies for the party and its members, therefore, the presidium will definitely be involved in the shaping of the party’s stance on the key matters, and they will definitely state the position. The group’s members will receive a mandate from the presidium on how they should behave on one issue or another. Therefore, the turmoil does not bring any clarity,” said Paluckas.