Press release, 15 July 2014
In accordance with the Constitution, the Seimas has approved the candidacy
of Algirdas Butkevičius nominated by President Dalia Grybauskaitė for Prime
Minister. The Seimas Resolution on the Candidacy of the Prime Minister of the
Republic of Lithuania (draft Law No XIIP-2014) was adopted by 88 votes in
favour, 36 against and 7 abstentions.
The candidacy of Mr Butkevičius was supported by the political groups of
the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, the Labour Party, the Lithuanian Poles
Electoral Action, and the Party Order and Justice. The votes against were cast
by the political groups of the Homeland Union Lithuanian Christian Democrats
and the Liberal Movement. The Non-attached Members voted freely.
Presenting the candidacy of Mr Butkevičius, Dalia Grybauskaitė
highlighted that the Government would have to continue with the projects increasing
our energy independence. We also need to maintain economic growth and
stability and reduce unemployment and social exclusion, said the countrys
leader. She stated that every sector posed certain problems the solutions to
which necessitated concerted effort and daily work. Only this would enable
fulfilling the promises given to the public and living up to peoples
expectations over the remaining couple of years. Transparency and moral responsibility
cannot be compromised or disregarded. We cannot allow the moral threshold be
put lower in politics as we commence the third decade in the restored and independent
Lithuania. Political maturity has to grow and enable the greater public trust
in government decisions, underscored Ms Grybauskaitė wishing the Government to
take advantage of the opportunity and renew itself.
Algirdas Butkevičius stressed that
the 16th Government had proposed another way of wealth creation: easing
redundant constraints, supporting new jobs and comprehensively promoting business
and investment in order to increase peoples income, reduce poverty and social divide
between cities and regions; and finding the best solutions in cooperation with social
partners rather than imposing own order.
He stated that the course taken by Lithuania towards becoming a growth
leader in the EU would be keenly pursued in the future. In the country, unemployment
is steadily declining and an average wage has increased by 6.2%. It has been
the largest wage growth over the past five years. However, Lithuania will
become really strong only when its regions recover and have those who departed
during the crisis back. Therefore, regions will stay in our focus and will
receive billions of investment, said Mr Butkevičius.
On 12 July 2014, Dalia
Grybauskaitė, President of the Republic of Lithuania, was sworn in for the
second term of office at the solemn sitting of the Seimas. When the President
took her office, the Government returned its mandate. The law provides that the
President appoints the Prime Minister and instructs him to form the Government when
the Seimas approves the candidacy of the Prime Minister. The composition of the
Government will be endorsed by the decree of President Dalia Grybauskaitė.
Rimas Rudaitis, Public Relations Unit, Communications Department, Office
of the Seimas,
tel. +370 5 239 6132, e-mail: [email protected]
