Eight lawmakers have left Lithuania's Social Democrats out of anger with the group's leadership, the party confirmed on Saturday, according to dpa. The departing politicians had continued to work with the country's Peasants and Greens Union (LVZS), despite their party leadership terminating a coalition with the agrarian party in September. The eight quitting members included former prime ministers Algirdas Butkevicius and Gediminas Kirkilas. Parliamentarian Antanas Vinkus was also dismissed from the party, a statement published online said. The Social Democrats decided three weeks ago to quit a partnership with the LVZS after months of tensions, following the decision to form a coalition in October 2016. At the moment the LVZS holds 56 seats in Lithuania's 141-seat unicameral parliament, known as the Seimas. Before the group resignation on Saturday, the Social Democrats had held 19.
