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Just before Jonines, two draft constitutional amendments on direct election of mayors were presented to the Seimas, one prepared by the ruling authorities and the other by the opposition. And although it seemed to be agreed on the outskirts of the Seimas that both projects would pass the first stage – submission – an unpleasant surprise awaited the opposition.
It was also played here that the vote on the government amendments took place first. After the presentation, it was adopted practically unanimously: only two members of the Seimas abstained, one voted against.
However, the next vote on the project drawn up by the opposition suffered a fiasco. To the surprise of the opposition, although 59 members of the Seimas (including Edita Rudelienė and Dainius Kreivys in the ruling ranks) voted in favor of the project, 61 MPs abstained and 3 voted against.
The law was returned to the initiators for improvement. Among those who did not support the project, the entire ruling majority.
It was after this vote that a couple of shouts were heard “What a shame!” In the Seimas Hall. Shortly after the vote, Algirdas Sysas, the largest of the Lithuanian Social Democratic faction, spoke with the president of the Seimas Viktorija Čmilyte-Nielsen and his colleagues.
“I am writing to the Speaker of the Seimas. As if in his office, we have very kindly agreed to go ahead. And the right-wing conservatives have shown how they play these games. Don’t expect an easy vote in the future. Because if we do that …
I could have rejected this bill at the consideration stage, no problem. But he did it specifically to show that he has the strength. Well, well, have that power with 60 votes, ”said A. Sys.
He was joined by his party colleague, Julius Sabatauskas, who said: “Today you are on the path of confrontation and, therefore, do you hope to approve the amendments to the Constitution?”
After the vote, Saulius Skvernelis, leader of the Seimas opposition and a member of the Lithuanian Peasants and Greens Union faction, also responded. He called the vote against the opposition draft a big mistake.
“Ladies and gentlemen, today we have been able to lay a solid foundation for further engagement. But that vote, the rejection of the proposal by our fellow Social Democrats, has practically undermined, in the long run, the hope of having the votes necessary to reform the law. Constitution.
It is hoped that with the adoption of the amendment to the Constitution proposed by the Honorable President of Seimas, we can reach a compromise on who is the mayor and what functions he has to perform. I think we made a big mistake, “Skvernelis said.
It will no longer support project management.
Emotions on the part of the opposition did not subside even a week after the vote. Mr. Sys says his group’s vote against the draft did not confuse him, but, in his words, it does not.
“I understand that they would have said it immediately, especially the Seimas Spokesperson. Because in his office, we, the Socdem, have pressured ourselves to start this process, not to postpone or delay. We agreed on everything very well. <...> Unfortunately, they behaved completely differently. If we had known that they would not vote for us, we certainly would not have voted for them, ”said A. Sysas on tv3.lt.
It does not claim that, as a result, the Social Democrats will no longer support the return of the ruling government to the Seimas project in direct mayoral elections in the fall. However, Mr. Sys is open that he will no longer be in a rush to support government projects.
“We will not blow up the Bražuolė bridge. But simply, when votes are needed … I heard they want a decriminalization law on Tuesday, in this case really … assured A. Sys.
“It just came to our attention then. I have been in politics for a long time. Make it clear that you will not vote and that we will not vote for you. Then you will see the relationship, as they then boast that 120 voted for your project. It would not be 120 That would be 70 votes ”, added a member of the Seimas.
According to him, from now on, the Socialist Group under his leadership will discuss how to vote for the rulers.
The voices of the Social Democrats are very important to those in power
It is no secret that the rulers have prepared a package of ambitious bills. In the fall, the Seimas will address not only the issue of direct mayoral elections, but also plans to return the Association Law, the alcohol control amendments, and possibly even the Istanbul Convention. Governors will need as many supporting votes as possible. It is true that to change the Constitution it is necessary to gather at least 94 votes from the members of the Seimas.
Virgis Valentinavičius, associate professor at Mykolas Romeris University, agrees that the rulers must scrupulously count the votes, and the support of the Social Democrats, who appear to have lost, is strategically very important.
“I think the rulers should have a very clear understanding of the simple: they can only do what they have to vote for. At best, it can do as much as win the support of the Social Democrats and individual members of the opposition. But you cannot develop strategic plans to adopt one project or another without the support of the peasants. They just never will be, ”said V. Valentinavičius.
V. Valentinavičius notes that this is not the first time that the opposition has been dissatisfied with the ruling majority, and it is not the first time that the ruling majority has a low level of sensitivity towards the opposition.
“The opposition kept shouting that the rulers did not read with him, and the rulers constantly announced that they would read more with the opposition. And you probably read more than the old ruling majority. But, in my head, I could read more, for purely practical reasons, to ensure further cooperation, ”noted the MRU associate professor. However, since, according to V. Valentinavičius, the opposition is actually led by Ramūnas Karbauskis, it is not worth waiting for the support of the Lithuanian Union of Greens and Peasants in the vote.
“It is a sufficiently rational attitude so that the rulers do not expect anything good from the opposition. Because both parties have a very serious reason for not trusting each other. As much as that cooperation is greater, it is only due to good will. of the rulers. <...>
As the opposition is led by R. Karbauskis, there can be no trust. I simply cannot imagine what the rulers could choose from among the opposition led by R. Karbauskis if R. Karbauskis did not want it. And it is simply irrational to expect some kind of benevolent help from R. Karbauskis, ”noted V. Valentinavičius.
In all, the ruling factions in the Seimas unite 74 members of the Seimas, including the president of the Seimas.
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