Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius views the emergence of new parties as the realisation of their constitutional right, although he does not take the two parties established this weekend very seriously. In an interview to Lithuanian Radio, the PM said these parties are yet to demonstrate the seriousness of their political, ideological charecteristics, but admitted that there are signs of oligrachy, lrytas.lt reports.

„Talking jokingly, in a few days we will be celebrating the 16th of February, a great holiday of our country, and in the history of independent Lithuania one of the biggest achievements is the Constitution, the constitutional rights, including the constitutional right to establish parties, even if it isn’t viewed seriously by others”, – said A. Kubilius.

„It seems that these parties have more to do with the realization of leaders’ ambitions, – he says. – Ambitions are always a good thing, even if it may seem rather funny to some.“

A. Kubilius didn’t deny that the situation, when businessmen owning media companies and banks are establishing parties, indicate signs of oligarchy.

„There are symptoms, there’s no denying that, – said Prime Minister. – I just have doubts that a project like the one we witnessed in Kaunas Žalgiris arena on Sunday – a wish by one banker, businessman to establish a party – is actually going to become a real political project. I do not think we should overreact to such initiatives. In twenty years there have been almost a hundred various parties, the Logic of Life Party, for example… A few more of initiatives like that will neither create anything new, nor should worry us too much.”

Translated by Asta Kurulytė