On 17 April the Lithuanian parliament - Seimas - failed to carry a motion bringing forward the next national elections.

The bill was supported by 50 member, 24 voted against the proposal and there were 25 abstentions. A three fifth vote of members, or 85 votes were needed to carry the amendment.

President Grybauskaite has already announced the date of 14 October for the full term vote, but with the ever changing landscape of Lithuanian coalition politics the government is hanging on to a slender majority and having trouble keeping the opposition at bay.

The bill was supported by the majority of opposition Social Democrats, Order and Justice Party, Labor Party and a few members of the Christian Party. Some ruling conservatives also voted in favour, including Parliamentary Speaker Irena Degutiene, who first proposed the idea of early elections.

Before the vote Prime Minister Kubilius said on Lithuanian Radio that the Seimas should only be cut short if they failed to adopt rational and responsible decisions on topics of key importance for the nation.

The main issues concerning Lithuania at the moment which need to be dealt with before autumn are key strategic energy projects he said.

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