Friday

29th Mar 2024

Lithuanian cabinet topples

The Lithuanian government has fallen after a key coalition member withdrew its ministers due to allegations of illegal party financing.

The country's Labour party - the largest coalition party in the cabinet - on Wednesday (31 May) pulled out from the government after President Valdas Adamkus stated he did not trust two of its ministers, the BBC reported.

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  • Analysts expect a new government to emerge from the coalition talks in the coming days (Photo: European Commission)

The social democrat prime minister, Algirdas Brazauskas, announced his resignation, suggesting he could "not see any possibility of continuing his work".

"I think the time has come for a new and younger generation to take over. I have been prime minister for five years, which has been enough," he told journalists.

Mr Brazauskas has led two successive governments since 2001.

Analysts expect the move will lead to a new round of coalition talks among the leading parties, with a strong likelihood of the social democrats featuring once again at the core of a new government, but under a new leader, according to Reuters.

The new mix is not expected to change the country's priorities, such as eurozone entry.

Vilnius' request to join the EU' single currency in 2007 was turned down earlier this month by the European Commission due to Lithuania's inflation exceeding the rules underpinning the euro.

Brussels has indicated, however, that Lithuania could still join in 2008 if succesful steps to curb inflation are taken.

Ukraine slams grain trade restrictions at EU summit

Restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural exports to the EU could translate into military losses in their bid to stop Russia's war, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky warned EU leaders during their summit in Brussels on Thursday.

Difficult talks ahead on financing new EU defence spending

With the war in Ukraine showing no signs of ending any time soon, EU leaders will meet in Brussels on Thursday and Friday (21 and 22 March) to discuss how to boost the defence capabilities of Ukraine and of the bloc itself.

Opinion

Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Rather than assuming a pro-European Labour government in London will automatically open doors in Brussels, the Labour party needs to consider what it may be able to offer to incentivise EU leaders to factor the UK into their defence thinking.

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