The newcomer has things to learn from his predecessor

Prior to the presidential elections and after them, G. Nausėda promised that he will be unlike his predecessor D. Grybauskaitė. That said, he never clarified, what this could mean, Vytautas Bruveris wrote in lrytas.lt

Meanwhile, the new president’s chief domestic policy advisor, former companion of Kaunas Mayor V. Matijošaitis, P. Mačiulis demonstrated that he brought the Kaunas spirit to the Presidential Palace with him.

Having just stepped into the Vilnius political reality, P. Mačiulis recently made significant statements about the future relations of the head of state, parliamentary parties and Seimas. The president will apparently carefully observe, who in Seimas support his aims and who do not. Those, who do, can expect his patronage and support in the 2020 Seimas elections – take it that this is sharing power. What can those, who do not support, expect? The question was left hanging menacingly in the air.

Such a humbly overly simple warning seems to be something that neither Seimas, nor the parties have ever heard from the direction of S. Daukantas Square. But does this meant that all of G. Nausėda’s predecessors, particularly his immediate predecessor, acted otherwise? Of course not.

On the old and open secrets

How blunt D. Grybauskaitė was in her handling of matters is an old and open secret.

“If you’re not with me, you’re against me and it won’t end well for you,” this was the motto for the entire decade of her presidency. Furthermore, she would typically act herself – directly or by phone – ordering someone to dismiss, pressure, bring or report.

This style of the former head of state was excellently illustrated by a former advisor of hers revealing that at the start of her first term, the president made a phone call to a businessman herself and demanded an 80 per cent discount for a carpet purchased by the Presidential Palace. Considering this case, we can see a difference between how D. Grybauskaitė and G. Nausėda operate. The former head of state would often look to handle awkward or even not so awkward matters personally, while the new president is so far inclined to do so through his advisors.