Lithuanian ruling party leader expects to sign coalition deal Thursday, PM more cautious

VILNIUS - Ramunas Karbauskis, the leader of the ruling Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LFGU), expects to sign an agreement on a new four-party government coalition on Thursday. 

"Perhaps we'll be able to agree (and sign) on Thursday," he told journalists on Tuesday. 

However, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis was more cautious in commenting on the possibility of signing a coalition deal by the end of the week. 

"We'll have (a deal) when the negotiators agree. This may happen this week or next," he told journalists.   

When asked about the possibility of no deal being reached, he said, "At the moment, I see more indications that it could be signed." 

The partners expect to agree on posts in the Seimas and the government within the next few days after completing talks on government program issues last week.

The LFGU started the talks on a new coalition following May's presidential election. The other three parties involving in the negotiations are the Lithuanian Social Democratic Labor Party (LSDLP), the Order and Justice party and the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania–Christian Families Alliance.

The parties involved in the government coalition talks want Skvernelis to stay on as the head of government, but the prime minister says his decision will depend on the outcome of the negotiations.