Leader of Liberal Movement denies discussing coalition with LSDP

Leaders of the Social Democratic Party (LSDP) and Democrats For Lithuania have not ruled out inviting the Liberal Movement to join coalition government after parliamentary elections. Yet Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, speaker of the Seimas and chairwoman of the Liberal Movement, does not think the time is right for coalition talks now.

"We meet in various formats but there was no special meeting. I did not have such conversations. I do not think this is the time for them," Čmilytė-Nielsen told reporters Thursday.

"The Liberal Movement is focused on the continuing election campaign. We have 9 candidates in single-member constituencies in the second round. There is just one goal – to have as large as possible political group for the liberal voice in the new Seimas to be stronger as it will be very much needed. This is already obvious," she said.

Earlier this week, the leader of the Liberal Movement stated that her party does not envision working in the same coalition with the Nemunas Dawn, whose leader Remigijus Žemaitaitis is known for antisemitic statements, or with the Farmers and Greens Union (LVŽS), whose programme greatly differs from the Liberal Movement’s.

On Tuesday, MEP Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, chairwoman of the LSDP, announced that her party intends to form the coalition together with Democrats For Lithuania and the LVŽS.

Lithuanians will go to the polls in the second round of parliamentary elections on 27 October.