VILNIUS / TALLINN - Members of parliament in Estonia and Lithuania returned from their summer vacations Sep. 10 with energy high on both of their priorities for forthcoming sessions.
However, Lithuanian parliamentarians shouldn't get too comfortable in their seats, as Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas has started dropping not-so-subtle hints that early elections are occupying his thoughts at the moment.
"Early elections could be the best way out. We'll do this, if possible," Kirkilas told the press while commenting on a decision by the Council of the Fatherland Union opposition conservative party not to extend its agreement on supporting the governing coalition and its minority government.
Polls indicate that the Social-Democratic Party could win in the elections, Kirkilas indicated, explaining that his Social Democratic Party's executive board will meet next week to discuss and early-election strategy.
However, Kirkilas' party colleague and predecessor as prime minister, Algirdas Brazauskas, shrugged off the likelihood of early elections.
"I'm convinced that just one year ahead of the elections, early parliamentary elections would be unreal and impossible. It would be wrong to shake the foundations of the state," Brazauskas told reporters, downplaying the formal withdrawal of the conservatives' support.
Brazauskas said that the current government led by Kirkilas would hold on until scheduled parliamentary elections in the autumn of 2008.
While MPs gathered for the opening of parliament Sep. 10, some of the country's pensioners staged a demonstration nearby, including a 24-hour 'hunger strike. Protesters are demanding the payment of around 200 million litas (58 million euros) owed to 100,000 pensioners.
Also Sep. 10, a new session of the Estonian parliament was opened with speeches by President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and speaker of the Riigikogu Ene Ergma.
Following the day of ceremony, MPs will get to grips with legislation on Tuesday and Wednesday, with 11 bills on the agenda over the two days.
The Riigikogu will resume a debate dealing with the drafting of guidelines for the fuel and energy sectors and the possible creation of a corresponding parliamentary committee. Earlier discussions were cut short during an extraordinary session of parliament in summer due to a lack of attendees.
Other forthcoming debates will tackle the pension system, involvement in Iraq, and approval of a supplementary budget.
