„I did not hear a direct wish, but a belief that the Freedom Party will be important in the next Seimas – whether in the coalition or the opposition, the Freedom Party will be important (ELTA). This is quite clear from this meeting,“ Armonaitė told journalists after the meeting at the Presidential Palace.
The outgoing Minister of Economy and Innovation said that she and Nausėda had had several discussions on economic issues.
„We talked a lot about the economy with the President. The situation is very fragile – even though Lithuania is growing and is no longer a country of cheap labour, I expressed my concern that those promises made by parties – from left to right – to take and distribute, to redistribute, could fundamentally undermine the growth of our economy“, she said.
„The President praised our work in the Ministry of Economy and Innovation and the reforms we have made, both in terms of innovation and new markets,“ said Ms Armonaitė.
The leader of the Freedom Party said that she and the President had also discussed the human rights agenda. However, when asked whether the Head of State had promised to support any of the Freedom Party's issues, Armonaitė said that the conversation was more about sharing views.
„We talked about the need to address human rights issues and to finish the work that has not yet been completed“, she said.
Referred to the lessons of working in the current coalition: I advise not to rush
Armonaitė also informed that during her meeting with the President, little attention was paid to the issue of possible future governing coalitions. According to her, the experience of the last four years in the majority shows that there is no need to rush to draw the framework of a coalition either before or immediately after the elections.
„We have talked a little (about possible coalitions – ELTA), but not much. However, one should first discuss the concrete things one wants to achieve. The lesson I have learnt from forming this coalition that we are currently working on is that you don't need to form coalitions before elections. And even after the elections, not to rush, but to find out what you want to achieve, what your colleagues want to achieve, to agree and then to work,“ said the Chair of the Freedom Party.
„I don't form coalitions before the elections, and I advise everyone not to rush blindly to thrones and posts after the elections either,“ she added, noting that the current centre-right coalition was formed without clarifying its tax issues.
Armonaitė also came to the President's Office at the request of Nausėda.
However, she pointed out that the Party of Freedom sees itself only in a coalition committed to adopting the party's programme.
She hopes that the President will invite the Conservatives to a meeting
With the Seimas elections approaching, President Nausėda has already met with the leaders of many parliamentary parties, including the Party of Lithuanian Regions Chairman, Jonas Pinskus, who is scheduled to speak on Monday afternoon.
Asked whether she was surprised that the Head of State had not found time to meet the Conservatives, Armonaitė hoped that the significant coalition partners would still be invited to the Presidential Palace.
„They should be invited, I hope so. I wish so“, she said.
„If not, it is the President's decision“, Armonaitė concluded.
With less than a week to go before the parliamentary elections, the President has already met with the Chair of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, the leader of the Lithuanian Peasant Popular Union (LVŽS), Ramūnas Karbauskis, and the Chair of the Liberal Movement, Viktorija Čmilyte-Nielsen.
It is unclear whether the Head of State will meet with representatives of all political parties currently holding seats in the Seimas. On Tuesday, Frederikas Jansonas, the President's chief adviser, told Žinių Radijas that it was not yet clear whether the Conservatives, who have not avoided conflicts with the Presidency in the last term, would be invited to attend.
Parliamentary elections will take place on 13 October.
