“Yes, I can confirm that I have today nominated Giedrius Surplys for the position of agriculture minister. I believe he’s a strong candidate but we will comment in detail after the president makes her decision,” Skvernelis told BNS Lithuania after meeting with President Dalia Grybauskaitė on Monday.
Surplys served as Grybauskaitė’s speechwriter until the start of 2017 when he assumed the position of a vice minister of the interior, and earlier advised former Foreign Minister Vygaudas Ušackas. He was on the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union‘s list of candidates during the 2016 Seimas elections.
Surplys studied political science in Lithuania and later studied diplomacy at the University of Birmingham in the UK.
He’s been in charged of regional development, administration of EU funds, issuance of ID documents and migration at the Ministry of the Interior.
Agriculture Minister Bronius Markauskas stepped down after he came under criticism due to his family’s farming practices. He will serve until June.
The Lithuanian president rejected Skvernelis’ candidate for justice minister – lawyer Giedrius Danėlius – several weeks ago. The prime minister says he’s still looking for a new candidate for the position.