Lithuania: Three parties begin talks on new coalition government

Lithuania’s ruling Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) has begun official talks with the opposition Union of Democrats for Lithuania (DSVL) and the Lithuanian Union of Farmers and Greens (LVZS) on forming a new coalition government, ELTA reports. LSDP chairman Mindaugas Sinkevicius met with DSVL leader, MEP Virginijus Sinkevicius, and LVZS leader, MEP Aurelijus Veryga,…

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Estonia: IMF, OECD urge budget cuts, tax reform

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recommended that the Estonian government stabilise public debt by limiting budget spending and increasing revenue, ERR reports. IMF experts warned that if current policies continued, public debt would become unsustainable. GDP growth alone will not solve the country’s long-term challenges, they pointed out. Achieving more sustainable growth would require increasing…

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Lithuania: President, PM back Foreign Minister

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene expressed support for Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys amid speculation about his future in government, LRT reported. Nauseda insisted that discussions about replacing Budrys were “not very responsible and not very serious”, pointing out that no concrete allegations had been made against him. Moreover, the President noted…

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Estonia: Populist opposition party reelects leader

Estonia’s populist opposition Conservative People’s Party of Estonia (EKRE) has reelected MP Martin Helme as the party’s chairman, ERR reports. He was the sole candidate. The party congress adopted a statement saying that Estonia’s current political system and institutions had retreated from protecting the constitutional ideal of a nation-state. Estonia must reassert its national sovereignty,…

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