Three biggest opposition parties on 9 March presented to the public a long waited alternative government programme.  The programme went public after the President Dalia Grybauskaite expressed her doubts about the ruling coalition; at least this is what the opposition leaders heard.  The opposition has also announced that ‘another large’ political faction is planning to join the opposition.

The three opposition parties of Social Democrats, Labour and Order and Justice have stated that their programme include suggestions to reduce taxes, fight unemployment, increase the state investment in infrastructure projects, value-added tax privileges, revision of excise duty for fuel and alcohol and adoption of law on bankruptcy of physical entities.

Nevertheless the Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius criticised the programme stating that it offers nothing new, apart the VAT taxes reduction and the changes of excise duty for fuel and alcohol.  The Prime Minister said to the reporters, “The alternative programme announced by the opposition Broad Coalition today is for the greater extend does not differ from the Government’s programme, with efforts to cover the absence of new practical proposals with anti-governmental rhetoric.”

The three parties have also invited the other parliamentary groups to join the opposition to support their programme.  The opposition, which now has 53 members, invited the Centre and Liberal Union with its seven numbers, which belongs to the ruling coalition.  Yesterday, the opposition also announced that another large political group is considering joining the opposition.  It is very likely that they meant the Christian political group with twelve parliamentarians.  Lithuanian media also informed that Conservative MP Ziemelis is considering joining the Christian group also.

The opposition leaders could have been encouraged to expect the President’s support after the parliamentary political groups leaders meet with the President on 8 March.  Apparently, during the meeting the President said that if the ruling coalition is not ready to work it should be replaced with other coalition.

Algirdas Butkevicius, the Chairperson of the Social Democrats said to reporters after this meeting, “The president said that at least for now she supports the current government, but is ready to talk with other factions if the government fails to tackle issues and adopt necessary decisions”.

However, the President’s Spokesperson Linas Balsys clarified that the President did not express her support for neither political force.  Balsys said, “The president didn’t voice support to either the ruling bloc nor the opposition. The president is ready to cooperate with absolutely all of the Seimas’.

The ruling coalition, which currently has 71 MPs has signed an agreement with the Peasant Union party on 9 March.  The Peasants with its three MPs agreed not back ungrounded vote of non-confidence against the Prime Minister and the other Cabinet members.

In short, the Spring session is going to be hot.