Kirkilas, who was invited by the conservatives to the negotiations, did not impress the opposition: they missed the leadership of Landsberg

The minority of the Seimas raises the question why the right-wing members of the parliament did not choose Foreign Minister Gabrielias Landsbergis as the moderator of the party debates, but G. Kirkilas, who no longer actively participates in politics and represents the center-left.

In addition, the parliamentarians note that the main problem, why the parties have so far failed to agree on the fundamental principles of the state’s foreign policy, is the radically different visions and, according to the opposition representatives, the reluctance of the conservatives to seek a compromise. Therefore, despite the experience and knowledge of G. Kirkilos, which the leftists of the parliament recognize and praise, politicians still doubt whether the former prime minister will be able to help in any way and bring the parties closer to a compromise.

G. Paluckas: even G. Kirkilas will not help in this case

Member of the Social Democratic faction of the Seimas Gintautas Paluckas is surprised by the conservatives’ decision to turn to G. Kirkilas. And although he recognizes Mr. Kirkil’s political experience and knowledge, according to the MP, the conservatives’ proposal is at least strange, and the mission offered to Mr. Kirkil himself is untenable.

“I don’t know what he (G. Kirkilas – ELTA) has to do with the conservatives, so that he could mediate with the Social Democrats, from which he himself left and really, excuse me, we don’t feel any sentiments.” But Gediminas is an experienced politician with both knowledge and expertise in foreign policy issues. If the conservatives invite him, apparently they appreciate his certain knowledge. Knowledge is important. And although there are no personalities here, I think that the possibilities of mediation for Gedimin in these matters are not very good,” G. Paluckas said to Eltai, adding that the parliamentary parties themselves know how to negotiate with each other.

However, the social democrat notes that it is extremely difficult to reach a consensus with the conservatives due to radically different views on what the parties’ agreement on foreign policy should look like and what direction Vilnius should follow in the international arena.

Therefore, the parliamentarian continued, if the positions of those in power do not change, “even G. Kirkilas will not help” to reach an agreement.

“Even G. Kirkilas will not help in this case. It is necessary to talk, periodic meetings are very healthy to exchange opinions in a closed environment, without spotlights, when words become stronger, sentences become more angry. You can talk about it honestly and say – colleagues, we think that you are doing wrong here and there, but (…) don’t drag us into those things, we don’t agree”, asserted G. Paluckas.

“We will not enter into such agreements that would oblige us to support the conservative foreign policy. This is the fundamental position of the social democrats,” he said, predicting a bleak future for the parliamentary party agreement.

G. Surplys: “peasants” miss the leadership of G. Landsbergis

During the discussion about the agreement between the parliamentary parties, Giedriis Surpliis, a member of the Lithuanian Peasants and Greens Union (LVŽS), had questions not about G. Kirkilas, but about the role of Foreign Affairs Minister Gabrielias Landsbergis. The politician claims that last fall, during the interpellation of the head of the country’s diplomacy in the Seimas, he urged the leader of the conservatives to pay more attention to the issue of the agreement on foreign policy.

“When we had an interpellation with Minister Landsberg, I suggested to him in public, in the Seimas hall, that he should take the lead – to invite both party representatives and perhaps representatives of the business and academic community to a broader consultation about where our foreign policy is moving”, – Eltai, the circumstances of the situation taught by the “peasant” of the parliament.

“He made a public promise that he would organize such a meeting. This is when instead of Gabrielus Landsberg, Minister of Foreign Affairs and still is TS-LKD we get Gediminas Kirkilas as the chairman – it sounds strange and looks like the minister’s digging into the bushes again”, explained the politician.

LVŽS declared last year that it did not intend to sign an agreement on foreign policy. According to G. Surplis, for the time being, the party intends to maintain the same position and does not have high hopes for a compromise.

“When we were preparing the initial version of the document, it was very clearly felt – and then in the end it was clearly expressed by former Prime Minister Andrias Kubilius – that those in power saw this agreement as a foreign policy lesson for the opposition parties. That here, we will give you a textbook, you will read it, you will sign that you have read it and you will be obliged to carry it out,” he explained.

“We have always said that it is important for us that the foreign policy is harmonious, that the two ministries do not clash with each other, that Presidency would not be angry with the Government. We just wanted a deal. Those in power, it seems, wanted to consolidate their very hawkish positions,” he stated.

S. Skvernelis: I don’t see how G. Kirkilas could force us to combine those positions that are not suitable for us

The chairman of the opposition Democratic Union “Vardan Lietuvos” also calls the situation strange Saulius Skvernelis. It seems to the politician that there is no such conflict between the ruling coalition and the parliamentary minority that someone from the country should be invited to solve the problems.

“Neither the position nor the opposition is angry that some kind of justice of the peace or moderator is needed. There is simply a separation of positions and the mission of the rulers, if they want the agreement to be signed, to sit down with each of the political parties that have some doubts, talk and look for a compromise,” the ex-prime minister explained his position to Elta.

“With all due respect to my colleague Gedimin Kirkil, (…) Gedimin and I can talk about all topics really well, discuss, talk, but I don’t see his role, how he can force the ruling party to combine those positions that are not suitable for us”, – explained S. Skvernelis.

He also questioned how Mr. Kirkilas was invited to join the working group. According to S. Skvernelis, it could have been a personal initiative of the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Žygimantas Pavilionis.

“Is this a move by the conservatives, or did the chairman of the committee come up with this idea himself?” I really wouldn’t think that there was a discussion in the conservative party that a representative of the left (…) should be invited to such missions”, he wondered at the circumstances of the situation.

However, the parliamentarian considered that the experience of G. Kirkil could be useful for the conservatives themselves – according to S. Skvernelis, the right-wing parties could learn from the former prime minister how to find compromises.

“Perhaps they just need the experience and political wisdom of Mr. Kirkyl – so that they can simply understand that in order to sign such strategic agreements, it is necessary to find a compromise,” thought the member of the opposition.

Finally, when asked how realistic it is that the parliamentary parties will reach a consensus and an agreement on foreign policy will be signed, S. Skvernelis said that he sees a possibility for that. However, he continued, as 2024 approaches. According to the politician, it will only be more difficult to reach a common compromise for the elections.

“I think that the closer the elections are, the more difficult it will be to agree and sign the agreement, because most of the political parties that will participate in the elections will show differences,” said S. Skvernelis.

“And there are enough of those differences and they can only increase. The situation will be difficult, but everything is possible,” he added.

As previously announced by ELTA, the agreement of political parties on foreign policy was started after Russia started a war in Ukraine. Most of the controversy during the preparation of the agreement was caused by the divergent opinions of the ruling party and the opposition regarding the position towards China.

In October of last year, G. Landsbergis called for the political parties’ agreement on foreign policy to be allowed to “cool down” and to end the discussions after the upcoming municipal elections. The minister emphasized that the rulers are ready to discuss and try to find compromises with the opposition.

After the elections, when Elta asked the chairman of the Seimas Foreign Affairs Committee (URK), Žygimantas Pavilionis, whether the ruling party plans to return to discussions with the opposition, the politician made it clear that there is no significant breakthrough on the latter issue yet. However, he claimed to feel a positive mood in both the parliamentary majority and the opposition.

Later it turned out that Ž. Pavilion turned to former MP and Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas for help. According to him, although the center-left politician would not be given formal duties, in order to move the agreement on foreign policy goals that has been stuck for a year, G. Kirkil’s involvement would not interfere, noted the head of URK.