Left in the shadow of Cabinet – no friction, no grudges

Stasys Jakeliūnas, Virgilijus Poderys and Vilija Salienė were officially brought up as shadow ministers for some time now. Alfa.lt was unable to reach V. Salienė, while the other two politicians touted as potential candidates for the posts of respectively Minister of Finance and Minister of Energy stated that they are neither disappointed nor surprised.

Stasys Jakeliūnas, whose position in the Ministry of Finance was taken by Vilius Šapoka mentioned that he views working in the Seimas Budget and Finance Committee as no worse an option, stating that “As far as I am concerned, I am satisfied working in the Budget and Finance Committee, I became the committee chairman yesterday. <…> When discussions and preliminary deliberation proceeded, with the unveiling of the final mandate counts it became clear that someone will have to work in Seimas and the committee. After certain decisions of the Prime Minister and perhaps some other people I was offered the post of committee chairman, which I accepted and it is natural that I could no longer become Minister of Finance, even theoretically.”

According to one of the architects of the “Peasant” programme economic section, there was no friction in choosing candidates, nor were any grudges left. “Since work in this committee and especially leading it is no less a responsibility and in some regards leaves room for more possibilities than work in the Ministry of Finance, I find it a completely acceptable alternative, which I am happy with,” spoke S. Jakeliūnas.

Virgilijus Poderys, touted as a potential Minister of Energy, described Skvernelis’ official choice – Žygimantas Vaičiūnas as an excellent and suitable candidate for the post. “There is more than one suitable specialist. <…> The nominated surname, that is definitely a good specialist and overall a good expert of international relations.<…> That [the decision] was known to me already, today there was nothing new,” said V. Poderys.