I. Šimonytė: when the Minister of Defense changes, the quotas in the Seimas can also be revised

She spoke this way after the coalition partner Freedom Party announced that it could take over the leadership of the National Security and Defense Committee (NSDK) if the current chairman Laurynas Kasčiūnas becomes the Minister of National Defense.

“Probably everything is possible, because people will still move between committees, the mere fact that if L. Kasčiūnas is appointed, it will be necessary to move him to another committee, we also have quotas in some committees that do not correspond to the current Seimas composition of factions, that movement between committees is not impossible”, I. Šimonytė told reporters in the Seimas on Tuesday.

L. Kasčiūnas, who was submitted by the Prime Minister to the Minister of National Defense, has already mentioned that, if he were appointed as a minister, former army commander conservative Arvydas Pocius could take over his position in the committee.

“Everyone can express their opinion, but first the faction or coalition will decide by proposing the chairman, and then the Seimas will decide. (…) I don’t make any preliminary assessments, except that this is not the task of the Government, probably the colleagues in the Seimas will somehow come to an agreement”, said the Prime Minister.

She also did not emphasize the fact that A. Anušauskas announced that he did not see himself in the position of NSGK head, after the Prime Minister had previously stated that it would be logical for A. Anušauskas and L. Kasčiūns to exchange places.

“There are more members in the committee than L. Kasčiūnas and A. Anušauskas, if it were decided that he changes the committee and does not stay in the one he is in.” The faction will propose someone from among the committee members as the chairman of the committee, depending on the composition of the committee. If L. Kasčiūnas is confirmed as a minister, he will not be able to be a member of the committee, because we adhere to the provision that a minister cannot be a member of the committee that supervises him”, said the Prime Minister.

The leader of the Freedom Party, the Minister of Economy and Innovation, Aušrinė Armonaitė, stated on Tuesday that the party would take over the leadership of NSGK if the ruling party decided to redistribute the quotas.