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However, according to him, it is still difficult to say whether the former colleagues from the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) will elect Vilija Blinkevičiūtė as chair of the left-wing consolidation process. According to the former prime minister and leader of the LSDP, he will not be quick to show initiative to seek forms of cooperation for the social democrats and “social workers” currently competing.
“In the first place, it is necessary to see if Vilija herself understands correctly the issue of consolidation of the left. If you don’t understand, nothing will happen. We’ll see. I don’t think the issue will be cleared up anytime soon, “Eltai said, adding that despite everything, the upcoming local elections, the Seimas and others will make the issue of the consolidation of the left increasingly relevant.
On the other hand, Kirkilas pointed out that the issue of the merger of the “social workers” and the LSDP, which he had repeatedly raised, would largely depend not only on party leaders, but also on the political context.
“Much depends on the situation and the conjuncture. There are many factors, but of course the attitude of the leaders towards consolidation is the most important thing,” said the president of the LSDDP.
V. Blinkevičiūtė has previously stated that he regards the call by former party member G. Kirkilas to mobilize the center-left political forces (including the “peasants”) before the upcoming Seimas elections as a “conversation”. However, the leader of the “social workers” is convinced that there is no other way for the left to remain in the political arena. So, Kirkilas says, it would be enough for the moment to restore cooperation with politicians who were once in a party.
“The first step could be some consolidation of the LSDP and the ‘social workers’. There are several ways for this, “he said.
“If the parties of the left compete with each other, the right will again be abandoned. That is the reality. But that requires leadership,” Kirkilas said, noting that the current low popularity ratings of the LSDP are a kind of incentive for them to Social Democrats reconsider the benefits of possible cooperation with LSDDP.
“It just shows that the consolidation of the left must be on the agenda,” Kirkilas said.
LSDDP will look for a new leader: ensures that Palionis would be a suitable candidate
In the immediate aftermath of the unsuccessful Seimas elections, G. Kirkilas, who mentioned his resignation as president of LSDDP, says he has not changed his mind. Therefore, according to the politician, in the summer the “social workers” should decide who will continue to lead the political force, which was formed a few years ago after the escalation of disputes within the LSDP.
According to G. Kirkilas, the new party president could be one of the three members of the Seimas who currently belong to the LSDDP. According to him, it would be nice if the “social workers” could be led by a younger leader. This is how he sees Andrius Palionis, a 45-year-old former Minister of Agriculture.
“I think it would be very good to elect a younger leader now.
Andrius Palionis would definitely fit. He has all the qualities: he was elected to the Seimas several times as a sole member, he participated in the work of the Government ”, said G. Kirkilas about one of the three“ social workers ”in the Seimas.
ELTA recalls that on Sunday the “Social Democrats” announced that they had elected MEP V. Blinkevičūtė as party leader.
After announcing that she had agreed to run in the LSDP presidential elections, she told Eltai in early March that she was skeptical of the idea expressed by G. Kirkilas, leader of the “social workers”, that after the 2020 elections, the Right has formed power in Lithuania, the center-left parties must unite.
“I think Gediminas Kirkilas provoked him here anyway and he did, in fact, speak quite a bit.
Gediminas forgives you, but I really don’t think it is and I don’t really need it at all. I don’t know why he had such a utopian idea and no one needs it, “V. Blinkevičiūtė then told Eltai.
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