“I can confirm that I do intend to stay in my current post for a while (…). I’m not taking part in the election campaign (…). I think this would seriously hamper the work of the government, so I categorically deny this and I’m consistently working as Lithuania’s prime minister and will continue to do so in the future,” he told LRT Television.
When asked if his recent rhetoric and issues raised were not targeted at the upcoming election, Skvernelis said that the issues of prices, rising income and a cut in the number of parliamentarians were part of his government’s program.
However, Skvernelis did not give a direct answer to the question whether he would step down as prime minister if he decided to run for president.
“I haven’t thought about it yet,” he said, adding that “the Constitution and the laws don’t prohibit a member of the Seimas, the prime minister or the president to stand in elections.”
When asked when he would announce his decision on whether or not he would run for president, he said that he would so within the deadlines set by the law.
Lithuania will elect its next president in May 2019.