欧美文化:Lithuania's new parliament convenes, PM to return mandate to president

VILNIUS, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- The 14th Seimas of Lithuania convened for its first sitting on Thursday, with a series of elections on the agenda, the Baltic News Service (BNS) reported.

Following the Statute of the Seimas, the first sitting was opened by the oldest MP, 73-year-old Social Democrat Birute Vesaite. The 2024-2028 parliamentary term began with a swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected members.

The ruling coalition, consisting of Lithuania's Social Democratic Party (LSDP), Dawn of Nemunas (PPNA), and the Democratic Union "For Lithuania" (DSVL), plans to nominate former Prime Minister and the Democrats' leader Saulius Skvernelis for the speaker's post.

The Seimas is also expected to elect its deputy speakers and finalize the composition of its Board and Conference of Chairs.

Addressing the session, President Gitanas Nauseda reaffirmed Lithuania's unity with the North Arctic Treaty Organization and the European Union and vowed to support Ukraine uncompromisingly.

In the afternoon, Prime Minister Simonyte from the center-right party, the ruling Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD), will formally return the government's mandate to the president. Her cabinet will continue as a caretaker administration until a new government program is approved and ministers are sworn in.

Following parliamentary elections on Oct. 13 and 27, the LSDP emerged as the leading party, securing 52 of the 141 parliamentary seats, with PPNA and DSVL obtaining 20 and 14 seats, respectively.

On Monday, the LSDP, PPNA, and DSVL formalized an agreement to build a coalition to govern in the new Seimas.