President-Elect has taken to work from his very first days, what are the key challenges to Nausėda presidency? Offices have been allocated to him and his team at the Presidential Palace, G. Nausėda is now in his second week of meetings with both politicians and ministers.
On the Žinių Radijas show Atviras Pokalbis, experts listed the tasks, which G. Nausėda will have to perform following his inauguration on July 12. Also, what challenges he may face, Simona Voveriūnaitė writes in lrytas.lt
So far, when talking about his administration, G. Nausėda remains mysterious – only two names are known to the public: his campaign communications head Aistis Zabarauskas and former Kaunas Vice Mayor Povilas Mačiulis. Experts on the Žinių Radijas show pointed to this as a key factor.
Member of Seimas and former chief advisor to President Dalia Grybauskaitė Linas Balsys stated that there should be no rush with this matter.
“You have that one month period over which the president-elect assembles their team. I do not know whether it is expectations from journalists or politicians that we want to immediately see, who he will work with. But there is that period and I believe it is normal to use it in full so that the president would assemble that team,” L. Balsys said, stating that the process takes time, both in regard to decisions and review.
“I believe there hasn’t been a single president, who would arrive right after the elections with a full line-up, with all the names known,” the MP said.
Vilnius University Institute of International Relations and Political Science (VU TSPMI) director, professor Ramūnas Vilpišauskas also stated that sufficient time must be allowed. Not only to assemble a team but also to get one’s bearings on the political field.
Give the president-elect some time
“The president must have some time. At least up to when he takes office. He is currently gathering information. Forming a team awaits him, as does getting his bearings in the political field – what is happening in Seimas, we see that one the level of words, there is much activity there,” the VU TSPMI director said.
He stated that the president-elect should not yield to the decisions of both news media and politicians to already evaluate questions and make decisions.
“He should continue maintaining a reserved and steady stance,” R. Vilpišauskas said.
Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) professor Toma Birmontienė also observed a risk posed by politicians to President-Elect G. Nausėda.
“The situation the president-elect now finds himself in is very difficult. It is not every time that when the president is elected that we have such lack of clarity regarding the cabinet, not only it, but also Seimas itself. In this case, the president was immediately thrust into a political whirlpool. Here it is very important to have advisors, certain people, who would help him find his bearings and make certain decisions,” MRU political scientist T. Birmontienė said.
“I believe that the political parties and problems arising in Seimas, there will be efforts to impose them on the president-elect. Every single word of his up to July 12 will be broadcast. And I see this name as a risk that he, still not holding power, is being extrapolated ahead of time, he is already being involved in a certain political discussion,” the MRU political scientist spoke.
“The president is at his greatest strength in choosing their advisors. This is where they unilaterally make a decision on who will be a companion of his,” T. Birmontienė spoke.
It’s good to talk with all parties
R. Vilpišauskas stated that only G. Nausėda himself can allow or not allow himself to be involved in discussions.
“Meetings do not yet mean that he will yield to this pressure,” R. Vilpišauskas said.
“He must interact with members of Seimas, he will have to decide regarding ministers, how he perceives the work of the Seimas majority up to the Seimas elections. He will critically evaluate the information he receives,” R. Vilpišauskas said.
The lrytas.lt news portal reminds that following the second round of presidential elections, the majority decided to expand the ruling coalition, thus it remains unclear both what sort of cabinet will emerge following authorisation being returned to it, nor who the prime minister will be. This is because S. Skvernelis has not made a final statement on whether he will uphold his promise to resign from the office of prime minister.
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