Snap Vote Eyed for Fall as Lithuanian Ruling Party Seeks Support
(Bloomberg) -- Lithuania’s ruling party leader called for a snap election in September as he moved ahead with his bid for an early vote amid a widening expenses scandal in the Baltic nation.
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Gabrielius Landsbergis, whose Homeland Union called for a new election Friday in response to public outrage, urged other party leaders to support his effort and demanded a meeting on the issue in Vilnius on Tuesday. Parliament could take a decision on a snap vote in the “coming weeks,” he said in a letter to party leaders Monday.
The political fallout has escalated as media investigations uncover a growing number of former municipal councilors, including current cabinet members, unable to produce expense receipts for reimbursed funds. Landsbergis, who serves as foreign minister, said the practice was widespread and impacted all parties.
Read More: Lithuanian Ruling Party to Seek Early Election After Scandal
The response to the ruling party’s move has so far been muted. One coalition ally has called a decision to hold a snap vote premature, potentially making it difficult to muster the required 85 votes in the 141-seat parliament.
Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said Sunday that she would resign after the country hosts the July 11-12 NATO summit in Vilnius if such a motion didn’t go through.
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