The premiere: the resignation of A. Anušauskas was publicly announced before receiving the letter of resignation

According to her, it was precisely because of this that several hours passed between the post of journalist and publicist Edmundas Jakilaitis on Facebook and the Government’s confirmation of the received request.

“The communication crisis started in a very strange way: when the posts appeared on social media, I did not have a request from the minister,” said I. Šimonytė in an interview with BNS on Tuesday.

“This is the question, how should I react to that thing: deny, assert something, say something?” Then, when the minister’s statement was received, then I confirmed that I have it,” she added.

Speculations regarding the future of the minister in his position were fueled last Friday followingnoon by the post of E. Jakilaitis on Facebook: “Thanks to Arvydas Anušauskas. We’ll see how Laurynas Kaščiūnas will do.” (Laurynas Kaščiūnas’s last name was written with a mistake in E. Jakilaitis’ post, – edit. past)

After some time, the media reported on the minister’s resignation based on anonymous sources, and finally the government confirmed the resignation request.

Pauliaus Peleckis/BNS photo/Arvydas Anušauskas

I. Šimonytė said that she did not tell the minister to leave, but suggested that she consider the possibility of changing positions with the chairman of the Seimas National Security and Defense Committee (NSGK) Lauryns Kasčiūnas. The Prime Minister already submitted his candidacy to the President on Tuesday. A. Anušauskas himself said that he understood the aforementioned proposal as a vote of no confidence.

The prime minister also said that she decided on the change of minister between the autumn and spring sessions of the Seimas, but did not take this step, because the new minister would still have to take the oath and take office during the plenary session of the parliament, which does not usually take place in winter.

– Prime Minister, among the reasons for dismissing the Minister of National Defense, you indicated his lack of activity regarding defense funding and the reform of conscripts. It seems to you that the minister lacked that activity because he did not have the motivation for it, or because he did not have the qualities?