The Lithuanian Parliament has rejected the proposal of the ruling party for early elections amid a scandal over the expenses of members of the government, Report informs referring to local media.
As many as 66 deputies of the Seimas voted for holding early elections, 61 voted against, 8 more deputies abstained.
The ruling party, the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, has proposed dissolving parliament and holding early elections to ‘reset’ the political system after media reports that many politicians, including three members of the Cabinet of Ministers, received payments while serving as municipal councilors.
Introducing the plan for parliamentary elections, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, who heads the Union, said that voters should be given the opportunity to become ‘the final arbiter’ of the scandal.