Political negotiations on a new coalition government have begun in Lithuania.
The Social Democrats have entered into talks with the opposition Union of Democrats "For Lithuania," which is set to replace the populist Dawn of the Nemunas party in the ruling four-party coalition.
The meeting of party leaders in Vilnius initially focused on substantive issues, Lithuanian media reported.
Together with the two other coalition partners, the new coalition would hold 75 of the 141 seats in the Vilnius parliament - down from 80 previously.
The Social Democrats had decided over the weekend to replace their coalition partner, citing the unpredictability of Dawn of the Nemunas and the increasing radicalization of its founder and chairman, Remigijus Žemaitaitis.
The four-party coalition also includes the Farmers and Greens Union, as well as the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania – Christian Families Alliance.
Support for coalition change in Berlin too
In an interview with the BNS news agency, Gunther Krichbaum, minister of state for European affairs at the German Foreign Office, welcomed the fact that a government could now be formed in Lithuania without a far-right or right-wing populist party.
Žemaitaitis subsequently accused Berlin of interfering in Lithuania’s internal affairs.
The participation of Dawn of the Nemunas in the Lithuanian government has always been controversial and has also attracted much international criticism.
The main concerns are directed at Žemaitaitis, who has repeatedly attracted attention for allegedly anti-Semitic statements. In December 2025, the politician was found guilty of incitement to hatred in a verdict that is not yet final.
