Juozas Bernatonis of the “rebel” group that makes the majority of the political group told journalists on Tuesday he was inviting the obedient colleagues to stay in the political group, adding he had no problems with working in the Social Democratic group, although he is no longer a member of the party.
“Everyone is working as they did before. The political group is called the group of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party. I left the party but see no problem in working with those who are still members of the party, I hold Social Democratic views. We think the same. Today we were unanimous on all items on the agenda. We suggest working together,” said Bernatonis.
Meanwhile, Algimantas Salamakinas who obeyed the decision of the Social Democratic Party’s council to terminate the coalition agreement says that separation is just a matter of time. “We have nothing to divide – teapots and mugs are property of the Seimas, not the political group. All we need to do is announce us, the seven members, as being part of the opposition, elect an elder and a deputy elder,” Salamakinas told journalists on Tuesday.
Rasa Budbergytė told BNS that the party group intended to found a political group of their own but could not specify any dates.
A group of the party’s veterans, including former leaders Algirdas Butkevičius, Gediminas Kirkilas, etc. who had signed a cooperation agreement with the LFGU left the Social Democratic Party before the Saturday’s meeting of the party’s council. MP Antanas Vinkus was the only one to not resign voluntarily, however, he was expelled.
The development led to a paradox where the 19-member political group of the Social Democratic Party are not members of the political force.
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