A weak and ineffective Lithuania’s Parliament’s oppositions decided to remind about itself and declared that they have came up with an alternative government programme.  The opposition parties of Social Democrats, Labour party and the Order and Justice party will attempt to persuade the Liberal parties to leave the ruling coalition and join them.  Furthermore, the opposition has declared that they will provide the document to the President Dalia Grybauskaite, so she can evaluate and perhaps support its urge to replace the ruling coalition.

The opposition leaders understand that it will be difficult to topple down the present ruling coalition.  The three parties hold only 53 MPs out of 141.  One of the opposition leaders, the controversial MEP Viktor Uspaskich told to reporters on Monday, “We will invite all those willing to contribute to the programme’s implementation. As you are well aware, we don’t have a majority. In order to see the programme through we will need help from other MPs.”

The three have in mind the Liberal parties in the coalition government.  One of them, the Centre and Liberal Union is in talks of joining its forces with another coalition partner National Revival political group.  The Liberal movement, on the other hand, even though criticising the high taxes is unlikely to leave the coalition.

No matter what it is more than obvious that the three are not fit to form an alternative government.  MEP Uspaskich is still upset with the Social Democrats form their dealings in the former parliament.  The Social Democrats chairperson Butkevicius does not trust Uspaskich, since time when Mr Uspakich was the minister of economy and Butkevicius was the minister of Transport.  After a dispute between the two Butkevicius resigned his post in the government.

The Order and Justice party does not trust the both parties, especially the Social Democrats, the party which was active in impeaching President Paksas.  The Christian party has declared that they are not planning to join the opposition.  Furthermore, few weeks ago the MEP Uspakich called the Christian party a ‘political prostitute’.  And to add the salt to the injury the Labour party and the Order and Justice issued a joint statement declaring that they do not see possibilities working together with the Christian party.  And that was also two weeks ago.

Those only few areas of possible tensions in the future coalition.  Not mention the programme: reduction of unemployment and migration, encouraging consumption, and tax reforms.  It would be interesting how the Social Democrats will suggest changing taxes, which sounds like decreasing them.

The current centre-right Coalition includes of political groups of the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, the Liberal and Centre Union, the National Revival Party and the Liberal Movement.  The coalition has a minimal majority of 71 votes.