Skvernelis on cabinet puzzle – Jankevičius to head Ministry of Interior?

Having received the support of the President Dalia Grybauskaitė and having been proposed as a Prime Minister candidate by the Lithuanian Peasant and Greens Union (LPGU), Saulius Skvernelis remains unwilling to discuss the names of potential cabinet members.

“The procedures are beginning. On Thursday the process begins in Seimas. Two weeks and it will be done,” S. Skvernelis told journalists at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday after queries of whether the “Peasants” had already selected candidates for minister posts.

S. Skvernelis refused to confirm or deny, that former Deputy Minister of Interior Elvinas Jankevičius was proposed as Minister of Interior, while Šarūnas Keserauskas, the head of the Competitiveness Council, was proposed as Minister of Transport and Communications.

According to the coalition agreement, the Social Democrats will be in charge of the Foreign, economy and justice ministries, while the LPGU will take the remaining eleven.

When asked whether farmers can expect to lose tax benefits, S. Skvernelis noted that no revolutions are planned for the sector. “The stance stays the same – no revolutions are planned in this sector, any changes will be discussed with social partners,” the PM candidate assured.

According to him both the intentions to move a number of ministries to Kaunas and the plans to amend the Labour Code will be measured and discussed with social partners.

“All the decisions will be made after measuring the pros and cons well,” reassured S. Skvernelis.