VILNIUS - Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas said on Tuesday he was more confident in the possibility of forming a coalition embracing right and left-wing parties if potential partners could agree to compromise for the sake of continuity of state policy.
Brazauskas, who heads the Social Democratic Party, which finished second the first round of parliamentary elections on Oct. 14, said, "The combination of the coalition can be different depending on the position and goals of individual parties. I believe the main goal for the state is to retain continuity and course."
The rainbow coalition would include the ruling coalition of Social Democrats and Social Liberal, the Homeland Union (the Conservatives) and the center-of-right Liberal and Centrist Union, all of which had strong showing in the first round.
He added, "Therefore, if a rainbow coalition is formed, we should keep in minds the main goal - continuity, Lithuania's readiness to take active part in the European Union, solve our social and economic issues, manage the budget, adhere to main principles in foreign policy."
Asked if the future government might involve members of the current oppositional Conservatives and Liberal Centrists, Brazauskas did not rule out such possibility.
"Every party has to be ready for concessions to achieve the strategic goal," he said. "I believe they could [work in the government] because the parties have experienced people who have had responsible tasks at the parliament and the government."
Earlier this week Brazauskas ruled out a coalition of the ruling Social Democrats and Social Liberals with the populist Labor Party if its leader, Russian-born businessman Viktor Uspaskich, insisted on becoming prime minister.
Still, Brazauskas told President Valdas Adamkus on Monday that a coalition between the Social Democratic/Social Liberal alliance and the populist Labor Party, which won the first round of elections, was possible, although he would insist on keeping the prime minister's seat to ensure governmental stability.
Brazauskas forecasted that after the Oct. 24 second round of the elections the Labor Party will have 40-42 mandates in the country's 141-seat parliament, Social Democrats and Social Liberals will have 35-37, Conservatives 21 and Liberal and Center Union 15 mandates.
