Coalition negotiations: Conservatives want quick and easy, and get out, like always?

On Thursday, Landsberg issued a press release saying he expected the new ruling coalition to agree on the work early and share the posts early next week.

I.Šimonytė is visiting this week 15 minutes the study also spoke of the need for a very strong selection of priorities in the preparation of the coalition program.

“The consensus is that there would not be many positions, because in general, when it comes to the government’s program, it will probably be necessary to focus on some very important things.

First of all, of course, there will be a pandemic situation as it will be. Next year’s budget can, as far as possible, be more tailored to the direction that we will see and choose together.

And below are some of the essential jobs that we can agree to try to do during the quarter. So that it does not return to being a mosaic of 800 goals and several thousand indicators, where eventually everything comes together in the process and people even forget what was agreed. I hope we can do that, “he said.

Photo by Julius Kalinskas / 15min / Dawn Armonaitė and Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen

But on Thursday, with requests from the Liberal Movement and the Freedom Party about what should be included in the coalition’s agenda, the Conservatives may have been disappointed. The Liberal Movement presented dozens, OR Freedom Party – even 160 points.

Furthermore, both liberal parties indicate that they will seek to include in the coalition program a commitment to legalize same-sex couples, although I. Šimonytė hoped that this issue would be left to the Seimas, but not included as a promise in the documents. In addition, in their points, both liberal parties speak of tax cuts, although I. Šimonytė affirms that such proposals should be made only by specifying the sources of income. Does this beginning of negotiations mean that there is still a long way to go before a compromise is reached?

K. Girnius: this is the performance of the negotiations

According to Kęstutis Girnius, a political scientist at the Vilnius University Institute of International Relations and Political Science (VU TSPMI), not necessarily at all. According to him, the presentation of many points is just a performance that is negotiated roughly.

“There is more acting here. Especially for the Freedom Party, which has submitted 160 points, in which case the laws should be passed every four days. I don’t think that’s serious. However, this is probably such a principled claim that Šimonytė here and the conservatives are said to want one, but won’t necessarily get it. I think it will still be agreed and it will be agreed quite soon. ” 15 minutes said the political scientist.

Photo by Lukas Balandis / 15min / 15min in the studio – Rima Urbonaitė and Kęstutis Girnius

According to K. Girnius, the Freedom Party, which performed unexpectedly well in the Seimas elections, may have the ambition to fight for its program.

“Be it youthful maximalism or youthful arrogance, which is already here, which will already participate in the negotiations, will have its position, will defend it with force. It is not about acting, but in the end it will be clear to them that either you go with the conservatives or you stay in the opposition. If you remain in the opposition when you have been invited to the ruling majority, how will you justify it to your constituents? ”The commenter explained.

According to K. Girnius, the way the negotiations are progressing and what the parties want to include in the coalition agreement shows that there is a poor understanding of the situation in the state. He first mentioned here the proposal to legalize same-sex couples as soon as possible.

Whether it is the youthful maximalism here or the youthful arrogance that is already here that is already involved in the negotiations will have its position, it will defend it strongly.

“You are not going to do such a controversial issue as legalizing gay marriage in 100 days. All the more so since there are serious problems, I really don’t want to underestimate this problem, but there are burning problems: the coronavirus, the budget review. You need to prioritize. to these things, “he said.

Photo by Žygimantas Gedvila / 15min / Gabrielius Landsbergis and Ingrida Šimonytė

According to the political scientist, the longer the negotiations last, the longer the “peasants” will deal with important issues.

“If they think they can better handle the crisis, have some of those plans, they should feel compelled to form a government as soon as possible. This is much more important than losing their favorite apps,” said K. Girnius.

A.Lukošaitis: After serious negotiations, everyone should fend for themselves

However, the political scientist Alvidas Lukošaitis has a completely different opinion. According to him, the coalition agreement is a key document that deserves a long discussion.

“It is no wonder that negotiations can take time and that the contract is long. I remind you that in Germany, when the coalition partners sign a contract that is not written on forks in the water, there are a hundred more pages in that contract. “. 15 minutes he said.

Irmanto Gelūno / 15min nuotr./Alvidas Lukošaitis

According to the political scientist, the coalition, which is uniting on issues of value, should not have many difficulties, because the parties are well known and can predict the behavior of others.

“In situations where coalitions are formed, program documents are signed, no matter what, negotiation skills and negotiation skills are particularly important. Perhaps we underestimate it, but it is very important and emphasized. It is through these skills you can gain a lot. It is not of course what you are still negotiating here and what you will achieve, because everything is clear anyway. But after that, there are a lot of very clever movements, undercurrents and eddies, “said A. Lukošaitis.

He considers that the decision of the Freedom Party to present 160 points should be welcomed, as it shows that the approach of the party is not lazy and that the negotiations are taken seriously, trying to implement its electoral program, which was also one of the More spacious.

If there is a situation where two couples are in favor of a same-sex couple, the great disadvantaged couple must be felt somewhere.

According to the political scientist, it would even be bad if the negotiations on the programs lasted only a few days.

“Now it seems that such a signal has been sent from the main contender to the prime ministers, from which it can be concluded that there is some fervor, we want to compress everything by maximizing the urgency of the final result. I don’t know how much can be negotiated here and how much is political and communicative here, but it is not always possible to expect a mature result to be achieved so quickly and in a simple way, “said A. Lukošaitis.

The political scientist argued that such haste could indicate a reluctance to acknowledge the existence of sharp corners of value and ignore them. On the other hand, it recognizes that the difficult situation is due to the difficult situation with the coronavirus.

“Hopefully the realities of political perception and experience will allow us to remain restrained and not rush, and in the urgency something will be overlooked that could damage relations between the coalition partners. But in principle, at this point, you would see too much excitement leading to haste. Signing coalition agreements is a long, complicated and complicated process, ”he said.

Furthermore, it should not be forgotten that all participants in the coalition negotiations must suffer something.

“I really like the saying that in coalition negotiations or at the end of them, all participants in the negotiations should feel a little offended. If there is a situation where two couples are in favor of a same-sex couple , the great disadvantaged couple must be felt somewhere. (…) Here are the most interesting things, which are undoubtedly very followed, followed and expected by the shapers of other possible coalitions. I have no doubt that the partners from these negotiations they fully understand this and for some it may be a trump card for pressure, ”said A. Lukošaitis.

We remind you that after the Seimas elections that ended on Sunday, the TS-LKD, the Liberal Movement and the Union for Freedom announced a center-right coalition at war. In the new parliament, these parties should have at least 74 votes out of 141.