2024-07-03 17:24:14
“It is quite normal that we meet in different formats. We had a coalition meeting last week. It is true that Gabriel had left and did not participate in it. But today he met Eugene. To tell the truth, he had come to me an hour before. Therefore, I consider such meetings as a normal part of coalition and political work in general. I think that this is the way things should be done”, said Eltai, the head of the parliament.
The meeting between the Speaker of the Seimas and the Minister of Foreign Affairs was also not announced in the politicians’ agendas.
“Since the meeting was arranged ad hoc, they just went in and talked,” said the liberal, assuring that she discussed the coalition’s work and current affairs with G. Landsberg.
“We had a normal working conversation, which we always have,” V. Čmilytė-Nielsen continued.
However, the leader of the parliament admitted, there was also a mention of the issue currently resonating in Lithuania regarding the country’s representative in the European Commission (EC).
Although these discussions mostly talk about G. Landsbergi’s chances to apply for the position of European Commissioner, the Speaker of the Seimas assures that the discussion was limited to discussions about the EC portfolios most relevant to Lithuania.
“We talked about what portfolios could be interesting for Lithuania, because this is one of the important current topics. We talked briefly about the portfolios and that was it,” said the politician.
Two weeks ago, V. Čmilytė-Nielsen had an unannounced meeting with the president
Recently, V. Čmilytė-Nielsen talked not only with G. Landsberg about the relevant positions for Lithuania in the European Commission. June 21 another unannounced consent of the Speaker of the Seimas took place. Only this time with President Gitan Nausėda.
“(The meeting – ELTA) was not too long ago, a couple of weeks ago. After returning from Ukraine”, said V. Čmilytė-Nielsen.
As the law provides, the approval of the head of the country is necessary when delegating a representative of Lithuania to the EC. However, as G. Nausėda made it clear more than once, he himself would not be inclined to support the candidacy of G. Landsbergis. And it is the name of the chairman of the conservatives that is unofficially mentioned most often among the candidates that the prime minister would like to submit for coordination.
V. Čmilytė-Nielsen said that during the unannounced meeting, most of the current issues were discussed. However, she admitted, during the conversation with the president, the European Commissioner’s questions were not bypassed.
“Yes, among other topics, these issues were naturally touched upon. There were various topics and topical issues,” said the politician.
“We periodically talk with the president, we have to talk in various formats. And the president visits the Seimas,” the politician added.
On the other hand, last week the Presidency made a sly comment about the recorded procession that arrived at the Daukanta Square Palace.
“While carrying out the powers granted to him, the president sometimes has private meetings that are not included in the official agenda. We do not comment on non-public meetings of the president”, – answered the questions posed by Elta, presidential advisor Ridas Jasiulionis.
He urged the Prime Minister to make a decision sooner
Summarizing the debates raging in the public space regarding the Lithuanian candidate for European Commissioners, V. Čmilytė-Nielsen says that she is not too surprised that G. Landsbergi’s candidacy is mostly referred to.
“This is not surprising because it is the chairman of the major ruling party and the foreign minister. Naturally, this is one of the most likely potential candidates. Until a specific surname or another surname is named, most of the discussion revolves around this policy,” said the liberal, admitting that the prime minister should officially submit her candidacy as soon as possible.
“Time is not our ally. Ours as Lithuanians. I think that it is necessary to make a decision and provide it sooner. I have expressed this to the Prime Minister as well,” said the Speaker of the Seimas.
According to her, in solving the difficult issue of the candidate for European commissioners, the agreement of the president and the government is first necessary.
“The situation is very simple – this issue will first be decided between the Government and the president. Seimas is the third stage. Voting in the Seimas will certainly not be a formality, no matter who the candidate is. However, until the candidacy is not finally decided in the Government and submitted to the Presidency, I think that everything else is just speculation,” the politician concluded.
The unannounced meeting between E. Gentvil and G. Landsberg attracted attention
As previously announced, on Tuesday afternoon, one of the leaders of the coalition, G. Landsbergis and E. Gentvilas, met in a restaurant near the Seimas. Although the meeting took place in the public space while the discussions on the EC post continued, the politicians claim that they did not specifically discuss any candidacies – including G. Landsberg’s. The elder of the Liberal faction in the Seimas assured Eltai that there was a discussion about his criticism of the conservative leaders.
ELTA reminds that discussions regarding Lithuania’s candidate for the EC have been ongoing for some time. So far, it is unofficially said that the Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis is applying for the post in Brussels. He was also named by the influential publication Politico as one of the most realistic candidates.
However, neither the minister nor Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, who will present the candidacy of Lithuania’s representative, clearly and publicly expressed such intentions.
For his part, President Gitanas Nausėda, whose approval is necessary for the delegation of Lithuania’s representative to the EC, has repeatedly made it clear that he would not be inclined to support G. Landsbergis’ candidacy. He has stated that he could see better candidates for this position than G. Landsbergis.
The possibilities of the minister to become a European commissioner are also questioned in the Seimas. Both the MPs belonging to the opposition and some of the ruling party have publicly said that they would not approve of such a candidacy.
The nomination of the Eurocommissioner is submitted by the Government after the position has been agreed with the President and the Seimas.
2024-07-03 17:24:14