Lithuania: right-wing populists ousted
In Lithuania, the Social Democrats have dissolved their ruling coalition with the right-wing populist party Nemuno aušra and plan to form a new government with the centrist Union of Democrats Vardan Lietuvos and the conservative Farmers' and Greens' Union (LVŽS) instead. Social Democrat Mindaugas Sinkevičius is set to replace his party colleague Inga Ruginienė as prime minister.
Major loss of trust
Political scientist Saulius Spurga comments on the Social Democrats' break with the right-wing populists on the LRT website:
“Clearly this move came far too late. The Social Democrats will have a hard time regaining voters' trust, which has now fallen to an all-time low. What there has been no lack of since the 2024 Seimas elections is scandals, incompetence, confusion and chaos. Unfortunately, we now likely face at least another few months of uncertainty while the coalition's government programme is renegotiated.”
A return to political virtue
The instability of recent years had already begun before the coalition that has now collapsed took over, political scientist Audris Narbutas points out in Delfi:
“This instability wasn't driven by particularly clever political calculations, but by basic allegations of corruption and the cynical prioritisation of personal interests over those of the state. In short, as a result of the human vices that have always plagued humanity. Consequently, I would wish for the new government that it returns to the path of virtue and successfully completes this term. Its success is Lithuania's success.”