DOPESHEET
Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius has been reelected as the leader of the ruling Social Democratic Party. He promised that his Party will justify the confidence voters expressed in 2012 elections.
Butkevicius was the only candidate in the election after member of European Parliament Zigmantas Balcytis withdrew his candidacy.
Balcytis suggested electing the chairman directly, criticizing that the leader is now elected in the Party congress, which was assembled on Saturday.
An economist by profession Butkevicius was first elected as the leader of the Social Democratic Party in 2009 and won reelection for another two years in 2011.
He expressed joy over the confidence, voters showed to Social Democrats in Parliamentary elections last year, and pledged to justify it although he indicated no major changes in the nearest future.
Butkevicius has also declared no plans to run in the Presidential elections next year.
Social Democrats won the 2012 parliamentary elections with 40 out of 141 seats and formed the ruling center-left coalition with the Labor Party, the Order and Justice party, and the Electoral Action of Poles.
The Social Democratic Party is the largest party in Lithuania with 17,972 members.
Last week the main opposition party Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats has also reelected previous Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius as its chairman.
'Austerity architect' Kubilius promised to revive the biggest opposition party and to start a very early preparation for the forthcoming elections.
SHOTLIST
Vs from the Social Democrat's Congress
Soundbite (Lithuanian), ALGIRDAS BUTKEVICIUS, Chairman of Social Democrats, Lithuanian Prime Minister:
I said once, that I will not participate in presidential elections, if I will be a Prime Minister. You have to understand, that work in election campaign would require a hard direct work while I am in the important post. And I like more a management activity.
Soundbite (Lithuanian), ALGIRDAS BUTKEVICIUS, Chairman of Social Democrats, Lithuanian Prime Minister:
We are not going to make a revolution in tax reform. We clearly see that our direction is looking for variants to decrease a tax burden for labor income.
Soundbite (Lithuanian), ZIGMANTAS BALCYTIS, withdrawn candidate:
In all our documents we want to provide opportunities for all party members to be and feel important not only during the elections. Very good requirement. So I think it is time to elect party chairman in direct elections, maybe even some chairman's deputies. In this way all party members will be included in forming party's leadership and share responsibility.
