Prime Minister submits new cabinet to president for approval

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Lithuania
2024.08.02 16:12

Prime Minister Ingrida Simonit submitted the draft decree on forming the government to President Gitan Nauseda for approval. In the new structure, Agriculture Minister Kęstutis Navickos is no longer present and is replaced by Kazis Starkevičius, the current chairman of the Parliamentary Economic Committee.

Minister of Health Protection Arūnas Dulkys will also be replaced. His position will be taken over by current Deputy Minister Aurimas Pečkauskas.
Other ministries did not see any changes. The Minister of Environment is Simonas Gentvilas, the Minister of Energy – Dainius Kreivys, the Minister of Economy and Innovation – Aušrinė Armonaitė, the Minister of Finance – Gintarė Skaistė, the Minister of Defense – Laurynas Kasčiūnas, the Minister of Social Security and Labor – Vytautas Šilinskas, the Minister of Communications – Marius Skuodis, the Minister of Education, Science and Sports – Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė, the Minister of Justice – Ewelina Dobrowolska, the Minister of Foreign Affairs – Gabrielius Landsbergis, the Minister of Internal Affairs – Agnė Bilotaitė.
In the announcement, Prime Minister Simonit noted that she trusts all the ministers currently working and believes that “all of them can continue to work until the end of the government’s term.”
“Nevertheless, I agree with these changes with my two colleagues. Both took up their responsibilities in 2020. under extremely difficult circumstances, for which I express my sincere gratitude. Each of them placed greater emphasis on the public interest than on personal ambitions or positions, in keeping with the style of a statesman’s statesman. I highly appreciate everything that Aarons and Kestouchius have done in these 3.5 years, despite the complex challenges of the areas they oversaw and despite constant criticism, some of which was more like personalization than constructive remarks”, said the Prime Minister.
“Nevertheless, the government has already accomplished most of the work planned for this term, and it would be disappointing if the remaining time to complete this term was wasted on rebuttals and explanations. I and the entire government have always and will prioritize constructive work for the benefit of Lithuania, rather than any kind of conflict,” she noted.
Last Monday, G. Nausėda signed a decree appointing I. Šimonytė as Prime Minister. The politicians must form a new government and submit it to the President by next Monday, when the 15-day deadline stipulated by the law expires.
The presidency has made it clear that among the members of the government, Agriculture Minister Kenstutis Navikas’ future in the cabinet is the most questionable. In recent weeks, Health Minister Arunas Durkis has also been criticized. However, the president himself has not publicly named specific names.
On Wednesday, G. Nausėda reiterated to reporters that he believes a change in the right-wing government is necessary. He said the renewal is needed to ensure high-quality consideration of next year’s budget.
In turn, Simonit said that even a few months before the parliamentary elections, the cabinet could change. But she believes that such a change must be justified.
After the government returns power to the newly elected and sworn-in president, a cabinet of ministers is formed and reconfirmed.