"I consider my most important task the continuation of reforms already begun and the introduction of new reforms, acceleration of the processes of integration, encouragement of scientific and technological progress and the expansion of the information society," Brazauskas told the Parliament.
Brazauskas, who has made no secret that this is the post he has been seeking for years, said he intends to pursue Lithuania' current foreign policy's objectives.
"Membership of NATO and the European Union will be one of the most important tasks for the future government as. Lithuania stands on the threshold of NATO, and we anticipate positive decisions will issue from the summit meeting next year in Prague. We also expect successful movement toward European Union integration," he said.
Speaking about domestic policy, Brazauskas said his government will carry out socially oriented economic policies.
"That doesn't in any way mean that business will suffer or taxes will be raised. We will carefully and with much consideration strive for greater social justice," he said.
"Privatization should be more transparent and beneficial to our people," Brazauskas added.
He emphasized that Lithuania will lose part of its Mazeikiu Nafta shares because of the Williams International-Yukos deal.
Brazauskas expressed his fear that this deal might be economically harmful to Lithuania.
He said the only way to overcome the current economic "crisis" is "to reduce unemployment and create new jobs, to create a favorable environment for foreign and domestic investments and to liberate business from bureaucratic constraints."
He also rejected charges that his new government plans to stop reforms. "On the contrary, reforms will be stepped up and carried out conscientiously in order to improve as much as possible the life of our citizens," he said.
Some 300, mostly elderly, right-wingers demonstrated against Brazauskas in front of the Parliament during his speech there. "Welcome back to the Brazozaurus era!" read one of the posters.
Adamkus made up his mind on June 29. That day he made a televised address to the nation and said he had a choice of two candidates: acting Liberal Prime Minster Eugenijus Gentvilas and Brazauskas. Adamkus' decision was motivated by simple mathematics – more MPs were supporting Brazauskas than Gentvilas.
In his words, "it is obvious" that a new majority has been formed in the Parliament. Three factions, the Social Democratic, Social Liberal and a joint faction of the Peasants' Party and New Democracy, which proposed Brazauskas as a candidate, ensured he got support of a clear majority of 84 MPs in the 141-seat Parliament. Gentvilas was supported by seven center-right parties representing around 50 MPs.
"Such is the reality of Lithuanian political life, and I am forced to recognize it," Adamkus said.
Adamkus initiated the creation of the Liberal/Social Liberal coalition after the parliamentary elections in the fall of 2000. In his televised address, he said that the ambitions of the leaders of the Liberals and the Social Liberals as well as interests of various business groups doomed the coalition.
On June 27 Brazauskas, Arturas Paulauskas, leader of the Social Liberals and Kazimiera Prunskiene, leader of New Democracy, signed a declaration on preserving the continuation of Lithuania's foreign policy and seeking a "socially oriented market economy." This declaration will be the basis for the new government. A strict coalition will not be created.
Ramunas Karbauskis, leader of the Peasants' Party, did not sign the declaration, but promised his party's four votes for Brazauskas' candidacy.
Brazauskas' nomination drew various comments from the right. Gentvilas said he is sure Brazauskas will be faithful to NATO and EU membership goals. Gentvilas urged the Conservative Party's elderly supporters to stop their anti-Brazauskas pickets.
Vytautas Landsbergis, leader of the Conservatives, said that the former communist Brazauskas could spoil Lithuania's image abroad on the eve of the NATO summit in Prague in 2002. Landsbergis went as far as to call Brazauskas' impending government "economically anti-Western."
"Landsbergis is a black prophet. He said he will leave politics when Lithuania becomes a NATO member. It seems that he does not want to leave politics, so he does not want Lithuania to be invited to join NATO next year," Social Democrat MP Juozas Bernatonis said.
The Social Democrats and Brazauskas himself have repeated many times in recent days that they will encourage American and other Western investments.
On July 3 the Lithuanian media began speculating on the future lineup of the government.
The daily newspaper Lietuvos Rytas quoted unnamed sources saying that Brazauskas would like to give the post of government chancellor to Laurynas Mindaugas Stankevicius, who worked in the Labor government of Adolfas Slezevicius in the mid-1990s and later in the Conservative government of Gediminas Vagnorius.
Another daily, Lietuvos Zinios, referred to unofficial sources saying that the Social Liberal-nominated Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis and Liberal-nominated Defense Minister Linas Linkevicius should retain their posts to help ensure the continuation of the country's Euro-Atlantic integration.
During several interviews to the Lithuanian media, Gentvilas said the leftists were proposing posts of ministers of economy and environmental protection. However, Gentvilas said he could occupy one of these posts only if his Liberal Union joined Brazauskas' center-left government. This is highly unlikely.
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