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“Regarding the Seimas elections, let’s first talk to political scientists about what is good and what is bad in the electoral system. If we see, we receive arguments and we agree with a broader group of political forces, not just the ruling ones, that some change is needed, we will probably advance down the path of that change, ”said A. Vyšniauskas, who was appointed head of the electoral reform group at Seimas.
The opposition group LVŽS affirms that it does not support the radical electoral reform initiated by the rulers. Meanwhile, A. Vyšniauskas affirms that the rulers are trying to find consensus and constructive spirit, and representatives of all other factions participated in the first meeting this Friday. In his opinion, the refusal of the “peasants” to participate in this process shows the reluctance of the largest opposition group to listen to the arguments of political scientists.
“If the ‘peasants’ do not participate in this process, then they are not interested in hearing the opinion of political scientists, experts, various organizations on the same Seimas elections, municipal elections,” said the conservative.
The Seimas member also rejects the valuations of the “peasants” that the changes in the electoral system are aimed at strengthening the power of the TS-LKD itself and the objective of creating a self-favorable electoral system that ensures victory in the elections. of the Seimas. A. Vyšniauskas denies that the desire to abandon the single-member electoral districts in the Seimas elections could be favorable to the Conservatives.
“I would suggest to those who say that we seek to improve our opportunities, take and calculate what the composition of the Seimas would be like if there were only a proportional electoral system,” A. Vyšniauskas reiterated the statements of the elder of the “peasants” faction Aušrinė Norkienė.
He believes that LVŽS is simply playing political games that have no basis, because, according to the Conservative, the resignation of single-member constituencies in the last Seimas election would have resulted in fewer TS-LKD terms.
“If there was only a proportional system, the non-TS-LKD would be the main winners of that system. At the moment we have won the majority of a member, so such innuendo does not make sense, they have no numerical justification. It is just a part of the political game, “said A. Vyšniauskas.
J. Sabatauskas: no electoral system is favorable to one or another political force
Julius Sabatauskas, a member of the Seimas of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), also doubts the statements of the “peasants” that the transformation of the electoral system could favor one or another political force. He states that after evaluating the results of all the elections held in Lithuania, it is not possible to notice a tendency for a given system to be favorable to any political force.
“I could not say that elections are more convenient for some parties, and in one way or another it is inconvenient,” the Social Democrat told Eltai.
As examples, J. Sabatauskas presents the 2012 Seimas elections, when the Labor Party received the most seats under the proportional system, and the single-member electoral districts were finally won by the Social Democrats it represents. According to J. Sabatauskas, it also happened in 2016, when TS-LKD won according to party lists, but was crushed by “peasants” in single-member districts.
“It would seem that the wave party should ‘take away’ everything, win both the proportional part of the elections and the sole member. However, this is not the case,” says J. Sabatauskas.
Therefore, it concludes that it is the single-member electoral districts that allow one or another political force to emerge and obtain the majority.
“Every election brings a wave from one of the parties and that wave manifests itself not through the list, but through individual members. This is further proof that voters are not looking at people, but at parties.” said J. Sabatauskas.
ELTA recalls that on March 18 the Seimas Board formed a working group, which for September 10. he will have to review the functioning of the Lithuanian electoral systems, summarize the proposals and present the necessary amendments to the law. A. Vyšniauskas has been appointed head of the working group.
The working group consisted of: A. Vyšniauskas (leader, faction of the Union of the Fatherland-Lithuanian Christian Democrats), Valentinas Bukauskas (deputy leader, faction of the Labor Party), Dalia Asanavičiūtė (Union of the Fatherland-faction of Lithuanian Christian Democrats), Andrius Kupčinskas (Union of the Fatherland – Lithuanian Christian Democrats) Democrats), Raimundas Lopata (Liberal Movement), Rasa Mačiulytė (Chancellery of the Seimas), Vytautas Mitalas (Freedom Faction), Audronė Ožiūnienien of the Seimas), Julius Sabatauskas (Faction of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party), Stasys Šysedikėsikėsik () Democrats), Rita Tamašunienė (Mixed group of members of the Seimas).
Rima Baškienė and Guoda Burokienė were also included in the working group before LVŽS left.
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