A. Anušauskas submitted his resignation to the prime minister: he meets with the president

He asked for a meeting with the president

Minister of National Defense 15min said that he will meet with President G. Nausėda on Saturday, and will make comments only following that.

“We have agreed to meet, but I don’t make preliminary comments,” said A. Anušauskas.

Skirmantas Lisauskas/BNS photo/Arvydas Anušauskas

The wave of speculation was caused on Friday evening by journalist Edmundas Jakilaitis, who wrote a message on Facebook: “Thanks to Arvydas Anušauskas. We’ll see how Laurynas Kaščiūnas will do.”

A. Anušauskas jokingly directed all questions to E. Jakilaičius.

“I promised him to refer all interested parties to him for that message, so go ahead, call, ask.” I just promised to refer everyone to him and I am not making any comments,” said A. Anušauskas.

VIDEO: A. Anušauskas following his resignation: I thank everyone who worked together

President’s press representative Ridas Jasiulionis 15min said that A. Anušauskas himself requested the meeting.

“I can only say that the minister himself requested a meeting with the president,” said R. Jasiulionis.

15min according to information, Minister A. Anušauskas requested a meeting urgently, and tension might arise between the Minister and Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė.

According to the law, the minister must submit the statement to the prime minister, and the prime minister must submit the resignation to the president.

Gitanas Nausėda

The Prime Minister received a resignation request

The Government Press Service confirmed on Friday evening that on March 15, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė received the resignation request of Minister of National Defense Arvydas Anušauskas.

It is reported that comments on the Prime Minister’s decisions will be made on Monday. This caused a wave of criticism that the refusal to comment on the situation only encourages various speculations.

Lukas Balandis/BNS photo/Ingrida Šimonytė, Arvydas Anušauskas

Sparks of tension

Recently, tension between A. Anušauskas and some of his party comrades has been visible in the public space – both public and private criticisms have been made once morest him by party leader Gabrielius Landsbergis, chairman of the Seimas National Security and Defense Committee Laurynas Kasčiūnas.

I. Šimonytė is holding a second meeting on Monday, where she promises to negotiate with political, business and trade union leaders on defense financing.

The upcoming Seimas elections can also cause additional tensions.

According to polls, A. Anušauskas is the most popular member of the conservative party.

That the news regarding A. Anušauskas’ intention to resign was unexpected, 15min said Vytautas Landsbergis, the first leader of Lithuania following the restoration of independence.

“I really can’t comment or evaluate anything – this is very unexpected news for me. I have to learn more regarding the reasons, regarding the situations that led him to such a step,” said the honorary chairman of the conservatives.

Lukas Balandis/BNS photo/Vytautas Landsbergis

An interesting intrigue

Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) associate professor Virgis Valentinavičius does not consider the possible resignation of A. Anušauskas impossible.

According to the commentator, it is obvious that the speech of I.Šimonytė and G.Landsbergis has been fundamentally different from the rhetoric of the Minister of National Defense for a long enough time.

Vidmantas Balkūnos / 15min photo/Virginijus Valentinavičius

“The inconsistency of seeing the affairs of the national defense and the general political situation was noticeable. But here the immediate question is what role does the president play.

If we take the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defense, it is obvious that it was easiest for G. Nausėda to communicate with A. Anušauskas. In those discrepancies, the attitudes expressed by G. Nausėda were closer to A. Anušauskas”, he noted.

Therefore, if A. Anušauskas resigns, and L. Kasčiūnas will take his position, as it is now being said unofficially, according to V. Valentinavičius, the puzzle will become even more complicated.

Lukas Balandis/BNS photo/Laurynas Kaščiūnas, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen

Because one politician of the ruling coalition closer to the president would be replaced by another conservative politician who is probably even closer to G. Nausėda.

“That rotation is strange and hard to understand. It may appear that the presidency is taking advantage of disagreements and inconsistencies between those in power and replacing the minister with a person more favorable to them. But if A. Anušauskas resigns himself, it is such a piece of the puzzle that A. Anušauskas wants to serve the president of his own free will.

Maybe yes. A. Anušauskas always seemed to serve the president better than I. Šimonytė and G. Landsbergis put together. The intrigue turns out to be very interesting”, commented MRU docent.

A 15min source well informed regarding the situation said that “the reasons for A. Anušauskas’ departure are not in the Presidential Palace”.