Conservatives invite former finance minister Šimonytė to run for Vilnius mayor

“After lengthy consultations, the council of the Vilnius chapter made a formal decision to invite Šimonytė to become the Homeland Union’s candidate for Vilnius mayor,” Mantas Adomėnas, the leader of the Vilnius conservatives, told BNS on Wednesday.

In his words, “the reply from Šimonytė was to start a dialogue,” furthermore, “she said she wanted to meet with all Vilnius offices of the party”.

“We take the perspectives and future of Vilnius very seriously. We see major challenges and need a high-class professional who could start managing the problems Vilnius is faced with. Šimonytė is the professional Vilnius needs,” said Adomėnas.

Šimonytė, who worked as finance minister in the government of conservatives’ leader Andrius Kubilius, is currently the vice-president of the board of the central Bank of Lithuania.

In March, MP Adomėnas was listed as the party’s candidate for Vilnius mayor.

Former finance minister – liberals’ contender

Meanwhile MP Remigijus Šimašius will be leading Vilnius’ liberals in upcoming municipal elections. His candidacy to run for the post of Vilnius mayor has been approved by the Vilnius city unit of the Liberal Movement.

“I will seek for Vilnius to become a transparency and efficiency standard for the entire country. Lithuania’s capital city must stand as an example to other cities in the country. Once municipal companies start operating in a fair and efficient manner, we will have the kind of Vilnius that functions efficiently and is able to earn money to meet the needs of its residents when it comes to health centres, kindergartens, sport and cultural events and facilities, rather than see Vilnius greatly indebted as it is now,” the candidate said.

Šimašius has been twice elected to the Vilnius City Council, is familiar with advantages and disadvantages of the council’s work, he also headed the Ministry of Justice, is expert in legal aspects of management, the functions and potential of state machinery.