Lithuanian government faces prospect of confidence vote in parliament

Four out of 14 Cabinet ministers have been replaced since the government was formally granted powers by the Seimas in 2014, following a presidential election.

Three more ministers are about to or could be forced to leave their posts.

Social Democrat Finance Minister Rimantas Šadžius is leaving for Luxembourg in May to work at the European Court of Auditors. Environment Minister Kęstutis Trečiokas is facing opposition-initiated no-confidence vote, while Interior Minister Saulius Skvernelis could lose the post after changing political affiliations.

Previously, Energy Minister Jaroslav Neverovič, representing a former coalition partner, the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania, was replaced by non-partisan Rokas Masiulis. Interior Minister Dailis Alfonsas Barakauskas of the Order and Justice party was replaced by non-partisan Saulius Skvernelis, while Labour Party representative Audronė Pitrėnienė replaced Dainius Pavalkis, who switched ranks from the Labour Party to the Social Democrats.

Finally, Social Democratic Healthcare Minister Rimantė Šalaševičiūtė was replaced by fellow party member Juras Požela this year.

If Interior Minister Skvernelis decides to leave and the Order and Justice’s Trečiokas is removed by the opposition, this will leave only half of the original cabinet, endorsed by parliament in 2014, in posts.

Under the Law on the Government, when more than half of the 14 ministers are replaced in the cabinet, the Seimas must have a vote in order to empower the government anew.

Rolandas Paksas, leader of the Order and Justice party which delegated Skvernelis, has recently called on the interior minister to resign after the latter announced his plans to run for parliament with another party, the Lithuanian Peasant and Greens Union.

The prime minister says he will make a decision regarding Skvernelis after meeting with Paksas.