Left parties to form coalition in Lithuania
29.10.2012, 10:57The second round of Lithuania's general elections held on 28 October brought some changes to the final line-up of the strongest parties, but generally allowed the opposition leftist parties to maintain the first-round lead and secure all the chances to form a clear and stable majority, reports news2biz LITHUANIA.
After competition in single-mandate constituencies the first-round winner Labour was pushed down to no 3, while the SocDems rose to the leading position. The Conservatives, now in charge of the ruling coalition government, finished as a strong 2.
The SocDems, Labour and Order & Justice started coalition talks two weeks ago after the first round, and it is likely that President Dalia Grybauskaite will ask the SocDems to form the new government.
The three-party coalition will have 78 seats in the new Seimas - more than enough to secure control of the 141-seat Parliament. The current majority parties, the Conservatives and the Liberal Movement together won 43 seats.
Judged by early post-election comments by the would-be PM, SocDem chairman Algirdas Butkevicus, the new government's priorities will be restarting the slow but potentially massive housing renovation programme, refocusing on district heating in favour of biofuel, raising the minimal monthly wage and reviewing the tax system (potentially in favour of progressive taxation). Butkevicus served as finance and transport minister in the 2004-2008 SocDem-led governments.
2012 general election in Lithuania, final breakdown, preliminary:
Party Seats
1 SocDems 38
2 Conservatives 33
3 Labour 29
4 Order and Justice 11
5 Liberal Movement 10
6 Polish Election Action 8
7 Way of Courage 7
8 Other 4