Lithuanian Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste welcomed the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) decision to postpone its planned mission to Russia indefinitely, BNS reports. Earlier, the Nordic and Baltic countries as well as Poland urged the IMF to reconsider its decision to resume consultations with Russia. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Skaiste noted that it…
The Lithuanian government plans to allocate 3% of GDP to defence in the 2025 draft budget, Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste told Ziniu Radijas, BNS reports. However, if the economic indicators allowed, the government could borrow more for specific defence needs, she added. The minister noted that the projected 3% growth of GDP in 2025 would…
The chairman of Lithuania’s ruling Homeland Union (TS-LKD), Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, has called for talks with the opposition Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) over fears about the surge in support for the new far-right party, Dawn of Nemunas, ELTA reports. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Landsbergis warned that the Dawn of…
Lithuania’s Economy Minister, Ausrine Armonaite, rejected the idea of introducing new taxes to fund increased defence spending, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Armonaite insisted that additional money for defence should come from borrowed funds or through economic growth instead. Also, the government should use unused funds of state institutions, she said….
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, chairman of the ruling Homeland Union (TS-LKD), called on President Gitanas Nauseda to set up a “cordon sanitaire” to prevent radical political forces from coming to power after the parliamentary elections in October 2024, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Landsbergis warned that pandering to radical political…
Lithuania’s likely EU commissioner nominee, MEP Andrius Kubilius, named security, defence, or EU enlargement as his possible portfolios on the European Commission (EC), BNS reports. Asta Skaisgiryte, chief foreign policy adviser to President Gitanas Nauseda, also noted that EU enlargement and defence were focus policy areas for Lithuania. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas,…
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda will raise the issue of NATO’s response to recent Russian hybrid attacks at the alliance’s summit in Washington, his chief national security adviser, Kestutis Budrys, said, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Budrys insisted that NATO had to respond to attacks when there was clear attribution. He suggested…
Lithuania’s opposition Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVZS) and Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) could form a two-party coalition government after the parliamentary elections in October 2024, LVZS chairman Ramunas Karbauskis stated, ELTA reports. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Karbauskis said that the two parties could have a stable majority in parliament. However,…
The minimum gross monthly wage in Lithuania may exceed EUR 1,000 in 2025, Social Security and Labour Minister Monika Navickiene forecast, BNS reported. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Navickiene assured that the minimum wage would definitely surpass the poverty risk threshold. Lithuania’s Tripartite Council is still in talks on the minimum wage hike…