Augustinas Normantas
Politics

Seimas Ombudsman calls Parliament to avoid initiatives limiting independence of national broadcaster

The Seimas Ombudsman has called the Parliament to avoid any initiatives limiting the independence of the national broadcaster. The Seimas Ombudsman, Augustinas Normantas, has urged the Parliament to avoid the initiatives that would have a political and/or economic influence on the public broadcaster, thus violating the provisions of Article 10 of the ECtHR. Without assessing the specific proposals of the Seimas temporary investigation commission, formulated in Project No. XIIIP-2656, the Seimas Ombudsmen’s Office as a national human rights institution advocates the protection of the independence of the national broadcaster. […]

Gintautas Paluckas
Politics

Paluckas: Grybauskaitė helped Skvernelis start his presidential campaign

The confrontation between the majority and the president is a public relations stunt intended for the nearing elections, Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) chairman Gintautas Paluckas told Žinių Radijas. He is convinced that there is no “war” between the Lithuanian political leaders, which is proven by their decisions in Seimas. […]

Saulius Skvernelis, Dalia Grybauskaitė
Politics

S. Skvernelis about phone call from the president: aid was not offered

In an interview to LRT Television’s Dienos Tema, President Dalia Grybauskaitė stated that out of concern over teacher wages payment reform, she offered her aid to both the now dismissed Minister of Education and Science Jurgita Petrauskienė and to Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis. That said, the latter apparently refused aid from the head of state. Meanwhile, S. Skvernelis stated in a cabinet hour held in Seimas that what was offered was not aid, lrt.lt writes. […]

Linas Linkevičius
Politics

Agrokoncernas requests the president and prime minister to evaluate L. Linkevičius’ actions

Agrokoncernas has made an official appeal to the president and prime minister over Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius‘ contacting law enforcement institutions over the company. Last week, L. Linkevičius called on the Prosecutor General’s Office regarding Agrokoncernas’ import of fertiliser to Lithuania, which is produced by Minudobreniya, 80% of whose shares are owned by Russian oligarch Arkady Rotenberg, a close friend of Vladimir Putin, lrt.lt writes. […]

Saulius Skvernelis, Ramūnas Karbauskis
Politics

Karbauskis: the classified document mentions specific names

Farmer” leader Ramūnas Karbauskis is taking Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis’ side and is assuring that the latter’s appeal to the intelligence services over potential threats to national security is serious and that he would do the same. However, he does not reveal what names are brought up, only that they are specific. […]

Saulius Skvernelis
Politics

Political scientist: S. Skvernelis has made a massive mistake

Political scientist Tomas Janeliūnas is convinced that Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis seeks to involve intelligence services into political fights by calling upon the State Security Department (VSD) over potential Kremlin influence on the Conservatives. Former heads of the VSD Gediminas Grina and Mečys Laurinkus are also surprised by the prime minister’s actions, lrt.lt writes. […]

Saulius Skvernelis and Gabrielius Landsbergis
Politics

Prime minister calls on intelligence services regarding potential influence on the Conservatives

Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis is standing by his words that the Conservatives could potentially be influenced by the Kremlin and states he has called on the intelligence services. […]

Saulius Skvernelis
Politics

Skvernelis’ ultimatum regarding elections: it wouldn’t be just any scandal

“If the budget is not approved, next year there may be no elections,” Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis stated on Thursday. According to him, this would happen because the Central Electoral Commission would simply not have the funding for the elections. However, political scientists tell Delfi that elections will happen in all cases but one. However, they note no one would want it. […]

Dalia Grybauskaitė
Politics

Questions for the president about commercial and central banks’ actions in crisis investigation

The Seimas Committee on Budget and Finance will request President Dalia Grybauskaitė to answer questions on the financial crisis. She will be sent questions about the actions of commercial banks and the Bank of Lithuania by committee chairman Stasys Jakeliūnas. Former Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius criticises such pursuits and similarly to the president, describes S. Jakeliūnas as inadequate, lrt.lt writes. […]

Artūras Zuokas
Politics

Zuokas to run for Vilnius city mayor

Former Vilnius city mayor, Lithuanian Freedom Union leader Artūras Zuokas has decided to run for city mayor once again, according to a post on his Facebook profile. […]