Lithuania's Government Crisis: 'Nemunas Dawn' Party Ousted from Coalition
The Social Democrats reshuffle the ruling coalition, dropping the controversial 'Nemunas Dawn' party. The new coalition likely includes the Social Democrats, the Farmers and Greens Union, and Democrats 'For Lithuania'.
Political Shakeup in Lithuania
Lithuania's Social Democratic Party decided last weekend to reshuffle the ruling coalition, stating that cooperation with their partners was no longer tenable. The primary reason was the controversial behavior of Remigijus Žemaitaitis, leader of the 'Nemunas Dawn' party, who continued to stir disputes despite joining the government. Germany's deputy foreign minister welcomed the removal of 'far-right populists', a comment Žemaitaitis labeled as interference in internal affairs.
The new coalition will likely consist of the Social Democrats, the Farmers and Greens Union, and the Democrats 'For Lithuania'. The key question remains who will be the next prime minister – whether incumbent Inga Ruginienė will stay in office.
Prime Minister's Troubles
Inga Ruginienė was found to have breached the law by taking her family on work trips to Italy and the Vatican, though she plans to appeal. Her spokesperson noted this was apparently standard practice in the past.
Cyber Attacks and Algorithms
Authorities announced this week a leak of personal data of several hundred doctors, following a major breach at the Centre of Registers weeks earlier. Officials say there is no sign yet of a coordinated cyber attack. Lithuania is also eyeing changes to gig worker classification: if a worker cannot negotiate pay, they are no longer an independent contractor.
Migration Updates
To curb exploitation, proposals have emerged to impose a levy on employers hiring foreign workers. Funds would cover legal advice, psychological support, and repatriation. Human rights groups urge the new coalition to remove the interior minister for challenging court rulings on same-sex partnerships.
Defence Updates
Lithuania signed a military satellite deal with Luxembourg, boosted civil defence funding, and is establishing a defence industry park. Military vehicles worth a billion euros and air defence missiles worth several hundred million are inbound. A newly established drone unit is set for offensive operations, the military chief said.
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