Politics
Lithuania to hold referendum to cut size of parliament
The Lithuanian parliament decided on Feb 14 to hold a referendum to cut size of the country’s parliament from 141 to 121. […]
Politics
Politics
Ruling party and PM seek to undermine authority of the president
Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis was surprised by President Dalia Grybauskaitė‘s decision not to appoint Irma Gudžiūnaitė to be Environment Minister. He claimed that the presidential candidate had promised a positive decision on her suitability for office. The Prime Minister claims that it will not be possible to reconcile new nominees for Environment Minister with the President, LRT.lt reported. […]
Politics
President rejects environment minister candidate, PM lashes out
The Lithuanian president rejected on Wednesday the candidacy of Irma Gudžiūnaitė for the environment minister’s position, prompting the prime minister lashing out. […]
Politics
Nausėda calls for “new political culture”, less confrontation
Lithuania’s presidential candidate Gitanas Nausėda introduced his electoral campaign team and slogan on Tuesday, calling for creation of “new political culture” in the Baltic country. […]
Politics
State Security Department presents its annual report
Lithuania’s intelligence bodies presented its annual in which it warned of increasing activity by China’s intelligence and security services in Lithuania. […]
Politics
A. Guoga: my life as a politician is drawing to a close
MEP Antanas Guoga has assured he would not participate in any elections together with the ruling Lithuanian Farmer and Greens Union (LVŽS), lrt.lt writes. […]
Politics
M. Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė: the European Council and EBU are concerned over press freedom in Lithuania
On Thursday, the status of news media in Lithuania and challenges arising for the LRT due to the national broadcaster law being discussed in Seimas were discussed in a sitting of the European Broadcaster’s Union (EBU). LRT director general Monika Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė, who participated in the sitting stressed that the European Council and EBU are concerned over trends being observed in Europe that threaten press freedom, lrt.lt writes. […]
Politics
LRTK recommends to not expand restricted information list
The Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission (LRTK) has recommended to not change the public information law and not expand the list of restricted information. According to it, current regulations are sufficient in order to rapidly respond to the dissemination of information hostile to the country, lrt.lt writes. […]
Politics
A. Monkevičius: teachers‘ wages could exceed the average wage in two or three years
It is possible, after two or three years, for teachers’ wages to be 20-30% higher than the country’s average wage, Minister of Education, Science and Sports Algirdas Monkevičius told LRT Radio. According to him, for this there is need for national consensus and a long-term plan, lrt.lt writes. […]
Politics
Lithuanian women not given chance to actively participate in decision-making process: president
There are a lot of competent women in Lithuania who can hold offices of ministers or other important positions, however, women in the Baltic country are not given the opportunity to more actively participate in the process of decision making, Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaitė said on Wednesday. […]
Politics
R. Karbauskis wants changes in his party: R. Baškienė and A. Nekrošius to no longer be his deputies
With the Lithuanian Farmer and Greens Union (LVŽS) congress nearing, “Farmer” leader Ramūnas Karbauskis has spoken to party members, proposing to halve the number of LVŽS deputies. The party chairman would like to not longer have Seimas first Vice Speaker Rima Baškienė and Seimas Vice Speaker Arvydas Nekrošius as his deputies, LRT’s Laba Diena, Lietuva reports, according to lrt.lt. […]
Politics
Civic committees aiming for Vilnius city council seats complain on inability to form coalition
Civic electoral committees aiming to compete for seats in the city municipal council are complaining that they cannot form a coalition, while parties are able to. Discontent, five committees are saying that in terms of the electoral campaign, they are ignored and discriminated. Due to this, they have called upon the Central Electoral Commission (VRK) for explanations, lrt.lt writes. […]
Politics
Deliberations on A. Karbauskis’ amendments on child protection system postponed
The Seimas Legal Affairs Committee removed amendments proposed by Ramūnas Karbauskis on the child protection law, which were to be deliberated on Wednesday because according to the committee’s chairwoman Agnė Širinskienė, cabinet conclusions are pending, lrt.lt writes. […]
Politics
A. Monkevičius starts meetings with trade unions
Minister of Education, Science and Sports Algirdas Monkevičius is starting meetings with education trade unions. The trade union, which organised a teachers’ strike in December states it will repeat its demands on raising hourly wages and reducing class sizes, lrt.lt writes. […]
Politics
Conservatives compare S. Skvernelis’ links to D. Gudelis with R. Paksas and J. Borisov’s friendship
A journalist investigation has uncovered facts that Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis and Minister of Economy Virginijus Sinkevičius, running in respectively the presidential and municipal elections, are constantly and systematically consulted by public relations consultant Darius Gudelis, the owner of the company VIP Viešosios Informacijos Partneriai, without having officially declared it. The aforementioned company has been winning numerous publicity tenders by ministries and institutions subordinate to the cabinet, part of which are evaluated by the prime minister’s political confidence advisor, which raises doubts for the Conservatives on whether there is no abuse of office and if state institution publicity tenders are organised transparently, a press release states according to lrt.lt. […]
Politics
PM to run for president
Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis announced on Thursday he is to run for president in the country’s presidential election in May. […]
Politics
Security institutions urged to react following LRT investigation, S. Skvernelis sees no issue
That the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union is backed by the shareholders of various companies is a circumvention of the law, which not only the Central Electoral Commission (VRK) should take interest in, but also security institutions, Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats Seimas group member Gintarė Skaistė told LRT Radio, lrt.lt writes. Nevertheless, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis sees no issue: “We live in a country under the rule of law. None of the companies have been sentenced or have been compromised. The party itself will decide, what donations to accept or not accept, whether you want it or not.” […]
Politics
Political scientist: Skvernelis is good news for Šimonytė
“Skvernelis has a chance. Everyone over 40 has a chance because you can still register,” political scientist Mažvydas Jastramskis shared his insights on Facebook regarding Saulius Skvernelis’ candidacy. […]
Politics
Social Democrats appeal to STT over business financial support for “Farmer” candidate
The Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) has appealed to the Special Investigation Service (STT) with a request to evaluate whether financial support from Klaipėda business to Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVŽS) candidate to Klaipėda mayor, Arvydas Vaitkus is not a case of open political corruption, a statement sent to lrt.lrt reads. […]
Politics
D. Grybauskaitė awarded for merits to prosecution system
In the commemoration of the Lithuanian prosecutors’ establishment centenary, President Dalia Grybauskaitė was awarded with honours “For Special Merits” at a jubilee conference, a press release states according to lrt.lt. […]