„The mood in the coalition is festive, and we have split up to celebrate the holidays, and that's what we are doing. We are in regular contact, congratulating each other on the holidays, and we will get back to work after the holidays – probably in January.
The Prime Minister commented, „ We will have a number of issues to discuss,“ adding that the meeting would inevitably also raise „minor coalition disagreements.“
Just before the holidays, Nemuno Aušra leader Žemaitaitis said that his group was seriously considering withdrawing from the coalition because the coalition agreement was not being respected and Žemaitaitis was not willing to be nominated to the post of Deputy Speaker of the Seimas.
This has also caused tensions within the Nemuno Aušra group itself – Žemaitaitis has reportedly banned his comrades from commenting on issues related to the possible withdrawal, and the parliamentarian Agnė Širinskienė herself has said that she will consider whether the chaos in the group's ranks makes it worth staying in the group at all.
However, Paluckas is convinced that the coalition is holding steady and that the disagreements that have arisen are likely to be resolved soon.
„The coalition is stable, nobody is shaking, and nobody is rocking the boat. These dramas are brought to spice up Lithuanian political life, which is very concrete. (...)
The coalition council is there to deal with the fact that somebody says something or is dissatisfied at some point. The rest is a political background,“ Paluckas said on Monday.
Pointing out that the previous Government often had conflicts with President Nausėda, and now one of the coalition's partners formed by the Social Democrats, Žemaitaitis, Paluckas insisted that such disagreements do not harm the work. Still, if necessary, he will take action.
At Christmas, Žemaitaitis called Nausėda „the Master of Daukantas Manor“ and stung the Head of State for his previous rhetoric towards the Dawn Breakers.
„The fact that one or another politician swears or exchanges scathing remarks does not harm the quality of work in any way.
The Head of Government assured us that if a conciliation initiative is needed, we are ready to take it, but otherwise, I don't see that it would have a significant impact on the overall work.
When asked when decisions could be expected on whether Žemaitaitis would become Deputy Speaker of the Seimas, Paluckas said this issue could be decided in the spring.
„There are undoubtedly several vital issues for the whole country and society that we need to address first in the coalition – the pension system reform, tax issues, reducing the bureaucratic burden. This is where the most attention is required, and people are most interested.
And the fact that somebody has not shared something or has not got a post yet, we will be able to solve those issues in the spring session“, the Prime Minister said.
