2024-07-31 13:49:42
“There must be a change in this government. They (the changes – ELTA) must not be massive and they must be made in order to prepare for the consideration of the 2025 budget, to calm the agitated communities and to do their work better”, G. Nausėda told reporters at the Antakalnis cemetery.
“The time factor in this case is not a decisive argument, that there is not much time left before the Seimas elections and it is better not to do anything about it,” he added.
The decree can be signed without some permanent names
The head of the country assured that the Prime Minister will express her opinion at the meeting on Wednesday afternoon, but he hopes to hear I. Šimonytė’s proposals regarding possible changes in the Cabinet of Ministers. However, G. Nausėda does not rule out that he may have to sign the decree without some permanent names.
“Everything is possible. I want to use all the powers granted to me by the Constitution. “No one has the right to issue ultimatums to the president and expect him to sign every name as a notary,” he said.
“I would like to see many things in the Cabinet of Ministers, but we have to follow the rules of the political game. Right now the ruling majority is what it is, it is not changing and there are no signs of changing until the fall. Let’s just follow the principle that this ruling majority delegates its candidates, but the president also participates in this process,” added the head of state.
A week ago, on Monday, G. Nausėda signed a decree appointing I. Šimonytė as Prime Minister and instructing her to form and present a new Government for approval within 15 days.
On the same day, the head of the country assured journalists that he wanted to meet with the prime minister as soon as possible. According to G. Nausėda, if the position of the Head of the Government did not change significantly, it would be possible to “finalize this process very quickly”.
Advisor to the President Ridas Jasiulionis Eltai said that informal consultations regarding the renewal of the Government took place with the Prime Minister last week.
G. Nausėda has stated that there are specific ministers who, in his opinion, could be replaced after the Government’s powers are returned. The Presidency has already made it clear that the work of the Minister of Agriculture Kęstutis Navickis is most in doubt. In recent weeks, the Minister of Health Arūnas Dulkis has also been criticized. However, the president himself did not publicly name specific names.
The Prime Minister herself has stated that when considering the renewal of the Government, it is necessary to assess whether these changes would really allow to achieve better quality in the relevant areas.
“It is necessary to look from the point of rationality, whether the change actually allows to achieve some kind of better quality. What we wouldn’t want is for us to solve personal issues in that change. The goal should be for us to improve something. In such a spirit, those discussions can take place,” I. Šimonytė told journalists earlier.
The Cabinet of Ministers is formed and reconfirmed after the Government has returned the powers to the newly elected sworn-in President.
2024-07-31 13:49:42