LFGU needs change, PM says, or he won’t represent it during parlt election

VILNIUS – The ruling Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union needs to change if it wants to see him as its candidate in the upcoming general election, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis says.

"I would like that political power (…) to be more democratic, a political force based on values, principles and discussions," the prime minister told the Lietuvos Rytas TV's 24/7 program on Sunday.

He added that "it would be difficult for me to join the party it is now."

"I believe the vision itself should change in principle, the way we behave, what we focus on, what our rhetoric is and how we make decisions," Skvernelis said.

In his words, the LFGU needs a political strategy and the party needs to look for ways to attract young people and city voters.

"If those changes happen, I will definitely be an active participant of these changes not only from the outside but also from the inside," the prime minister said. "If not and that is not needed, then other alternatives in politics need to be found."

Skvernelis was the first on the LFGU list during the 2016 parliament election and was nominated for prime minister but never actually became a member of the party. This year, the party nominated Skvernelis for president but he came in third during the first round of voting.