After changing the tone, Nausėda decided not to take revenge: but this is not the end of the conflict

Rima Urbonaitė, political scientist from Mykolas Romeris University (MRU), believes that the president, by choosing to sign the revised 2021 state budget, acted rationally.

“Because we are not talking about next year’s budget. We are talking about a revised budget. On the other hand, he took the opportunity to express criticism as well. This is a completely rational decision not to put his feet on the wheels, but to express his position, which I think it will be relevant not only for this revised budget, but that position will also be relevant for the 2022 budget ”, commented R. Urbonaitė.

According to the political scientist, the opposite decision, to veto the revised budget, would have caused a lot of chaos.

“And time is running out and there isn’t much left until the end of the year. (…) I consider this as a rational and deliberate decision, which does not make the President only confirm everything that the Seimas gives. The president criticizes, even on the other hand, that the president does not create a situation that would corner the ruling corners and confuse the situation, because we are talking about what is relevant here and now, and not what will be. relevant, let’s say 2022 years ”, said R. Urbonaitė.

The political scientist pointed out that when making the decision, the president possibly left existing personal aspects that are related to relations in general and with the conservative faction in particular.

“It is a good example of how the tone can be changed, and that certain rationality, political logic and, ultimately, the State and the interest of the State as a common denominator can be in our politics.

We see more such steps. After all, Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius should also meet with the presidential team. However, I think it is necessary to recognize that we have to go back to the normal areas of discussion. We need to talk about the decisions that politicians make as rational decisions, where the interest of the State is paramount. Politicians sometimes show that they can do it, and we have to rejoice here, “said R. Urbonaitė.

Both parties ask for compromises

According to the political scientist, the criticism expressed along with the decision is something natural.

“It would be strange if the president just signed and did not express criticism. We have already heard signs that, say, in a meeting with Mr. Sys and other people from the opposition, he said,” It is possible and better. “It is natural that if that information came to light, then the President had to express some criticism, ”said R. Urbonaitė.

According to the political scientist, “if conservatives and those in power in general are unable to evaluate such a measure by the president, then they have problems.”

“I think both parties here should think about how to find compromises. After all, there are other problems. Many of the issues require the mobilization and discourse of different institutions.

If we see that this is not being evaluated, or that it is still biased, we will only regret it, because, in any case, compromises have to be found in politics. Of course, there are situations where compromises are very difficult to find. This is also understandable ”, considered R. Urbonaitė.

According to the political scientist, in politics and conflicts are understandable by the fact that interests are different.

“But the worst thing is when you sometimes see that the conflict seems to become an end in itself. “If we can take a step back now and even use the summer political season to reduce tensions and find common problems where we can really concentrate our forces, it will only benefit our overall political situation,” said R. Urbonaitė.

According to the political scientist, it is not wise to artificially exacerbate the conflict, given the degree of sensitivity of society.

“Especially since in autumn we will probably meet again with the probable increase in the fight against infections, and here we will need our focus, both society and politicians. So, apparently, it is also a good time to find common ground”, said R. Urbonaitė.

I’m glad you didn’t choose otherwise

MRU Associate Professor, Political Scientist Virgis Valentinavičius Delphi He also said that he was pleased that G. Nausėda had helped sign this year’s revised budget.

“I think you have gained a sober mind. Mr. Nausėda was simply afraid of the consequences. Because the budget veto, now that the Seimas session is coming to an end and given the importance of the budget, it would be a completely open war. That just wasn’t done, “Valentinavičius said.

Behind the scenes of the policy, it was said that there was a possibility of not signing the revised budget.

“It just came to our attention then. I think President G. Nausėda has decided that the conflict is strong enough, everything is going well for him, it is not worth sharpening it at that time,” said MRU political scientist V. Valentinavičius.

I don’t think that’s the end of the conflict

However, this is far from the end of the conflict.

“We will live with that conflict until the next elections to the Seimas. What the president of the Seimas Viktorija Čmilytė – Nielsen said today – the division of values ​​became evident. It is very clear that the president is heading east in the sense of rights human rights and values, which unequivocally supports that new Garliava in Vingis Park and her ultra-conservative approach to human and minority rights. G. Nausėda voluntarily became Lithuania’s No. 1 gift “, – Delphi said the interlocutor.

He said that the head of the country had taken this “title” away from Valdemaras Tomaševskis, and that the leader of the Union of Peasants and Greens of Lithuania, Ramūnas Karbauskis, was very close.

“It is very clear that a coalition of this type is being formed, which in one way or another will fight and come into conflict with the current rulers. “This conflict will continue to erupt,” said political scientist V. Valentinavičius.

He also saw another problem for the future.

MRU political scientist V. Valentinavičius also mentioned another important element of the conflict: the looting of the ruling National Union, the Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD).

“The so-called Taliban of the National Union are encouraged to speak generously, so it is actually dividing the party. And the fact that party leader Gabriel Landsbergis does not have time to preside and work normally with the party ensures his unity. The effect of G. Nausėda’s spirits is particularly visible, “he commented on the situation.

The political scientist stated that currently Audronius Ažubalis, Vilija Aleknaitė – Abramikienė and Paulius Saudargas are seen very frequently in public spaces and at the Seimas.

“These people are listened to more than most of the party. Consequently, the effect of G. Nausėda’s posture is remarkable enough. The National Union itself must take responsibility for allowing the president to flee in this way, weakening himself. I have always thought that the main asset of this ruling majority and of the Union of the Homeland is me. Šimonytė, is its flag, the work has to revolve around it. Do we see that? We see that I. Šimonytė is more of a problem for the rulers than a support for her. In the sense of the union of the fatherland, the president responds that he could not organize the party in such a way that the prime minister was shown in the most favorable way ”, said V. Valentinavičius to the problem.

Asked whether the ruling majority and the National Union will have to eagerly await the knowledge of all the documents in which the country’s leader, G. Nausėda, must sign, the political scientist replied that so far not. But the trajectory travels in that direction.

“As long as there are numbers, as long as the Union of the Homeland can still mobilize votes in the Seimas and win them, it is as if it were too early to tremble.” But looking further, as that divisive work intensifies, the Taliban raise their heads more and more and their voice grows louder, this can generally lead to party division. That then every vote will be a problem. And considering that G. Nausėda will never help this ruling majority, then it is already possible to tremble. It is too early now, but the trajectory of the National Union and the Liberals is very unfavorable. ” Delphi said MRU political scientist V. Valentinavičius.

He signed the budget but voiced criticism.

As already announced, President G. Nausėda signed the revised Seimas 2021 state budget on Wednesday, the presidency announced. As explained, when signing the budget amendments, the president noted that the ruling Seimas coalition did not take the opportunity to stop the growing income inequality among Lithuanian workers during the pandemic.

“The budget adjustment is now necessary because we need to allocate more funds to strengthen border security with Belarus and national defense.

Therefore, I have decided to sign this revised budget. However, postponing the reduction of social injustice to the fall compromises the ruling coalition’s commitment to creating a state where everyone feels valued and important, ”said the president.

According to the president, it is positive that the deficit of public finances foreseen in the modified state budget is 6.9%. GDP is lower than in the preliminary draft amending budget presented in May and lower than at the end of last year.

The President welcomes the fact that the amended budget includes the first investments of the EU Fund for Recovery and Building Resilience agreed by the European Council: 149 million. euros, which will initiate Lithuania’s green and digital transformation towards a higher value-added economy.

However, the president criticizes that in the revised budget for the management of the pandemic, the government reserve has more than doubled and amounts to 927 million. euros.

“The threat of a pandemic has subsided, but it has not disappeared, so the fight against the virus will continue in the second half of this year. However, the planning of these funds in the Government Reserve, but not in ministerial allocations, does not conform to good budget management practice, since we have sufficient data on the epidemiological and economic situation of the country. Destining almost a billion. The government will have to pay the taxpayers for each one of them ”, emphasized the president.

According to the president, it is positive that the state budget provides additional funds for the payment of universal benefits for single persons and measures for the employment of the disabled.