Lithuania's current political course towards the other Baltic states will remain unchanged - political expert

RIGA - Lithuania's current political course towards the other Baltic states will not change, political analyst and historian Karlis Dauksts told LETA.

He also stressed that the new Lithuanian prime minister, Gintautas Paluckas, is committed to continuing the close coordination of the Baltic states in international organizations, including Poland, in international problem-solving in the region.

Dauksts emphasized that hard negotiations had nevertheless resulted in a Lithuanian coalition government, although it is cautionary that three ministers of the new government represent the so-called populist party Dawn of Nemunas. In his view, a national government with conservative demagogy is now in place.

The political analyst noted that Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda seemed to have taken personal responsibility for the ministers of the Dawn of Nemunas, their work, loyalty and integration into the Social Democrat-led government.

Dauksts said that doubts were being expressed in Lithuanian society about the suitability of the new ministers. As a positive example, he mentioned the new Lithuanian Minister of Defense, Dovile Sakaliene, who represents the Social Democrats. She will be the one who will lead Lithuania's defense policy. The expert stressed that Sakaliene is a Lithuanian patriot and has met the German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. In the opinion of the political analyst, she will also be able to find common ground with the Baltic defense ministers.

In his view, it is more complicated that Paluckas, the former vice-mayor of Vilnius and vice-president of the Social Democratic Party, has become Prime Minister of Lithuania. According to the political analyst, many compare him to the former Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, who has been accused of arrogance and harshness in her statements.

The stability of the new government, he added, is determined by the extent to which it can deliver on its promises, although the President of Lithuania also bears a great responsibility - he has conditionally taken on the responsibility of guaranteeing the stability of the government, since Nauseda has been influential in bringing this government to power through his authority.