Roundup: Lithuanian gov't "volatile" amid corruption issues: president

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said on Wednesday the country's current government was "volatile" concerning recent corruption and transparency issues within the cabinet.

The president was speaking to journalists after meeting with the head of government, Algirdas Butkevicius, amid the latest corruption-related scandals surrounding the government.

Grybauskaite stressed that Butkevicius was responsible for the cabinet of ministers as he controlled the work of all ministers, but did not directly call for his resignation.

"We are forced to discuss the situation within the government due to corruption which clouds some of the ministers," Grybauskaite was quoted as saying by local media.

She called for ensuring transparency of government operations, given the approaching national elections in October this year.

The head of state noted that recent corruption-related issues in the health and environment ministries as well as opaque activities of institutions under the agriculture ministry undermined the reputation of the whole government.

"These are disgraceful issues which make the government volatile, non-resisting to pressure or even corrupted influence; however, we observe non adequate evaluation of the situation and denial of problems," Grybauskaite continued.

She emphasized that European transparency standards and not mere declarative statements must be the basis of the government's fight against corruption.

Meanwhile, Butkevicius told reporters at a separate briefing he "did not receive any reproaches" from the president, ELTA news agency reported.

"I was told that the prime minister is trusted and no demands to assume any responsibilities were put forward; we talked about the ministers who currently are in the limelight," Butkevicius said.

After the meeting with the prime minister at the Presidential Palace, Grybauskaite also told reporters that she signed a decree on the dismissal of health minister Rimante Salaseviciute effective from Feb. 18.

Salaseviciute submitted a resignation request to the prime minister earlier due to involvement in a bribery case after she admitted to bribing a doctor about ten years ago.

Meanwhile, Virginija Baltraitiene, minister of agriculture, was criticized by the president amid a scandal when local media revealed that the Lithuanian Agricultural and Food Market Regulation Agency under the ministry was buying food for the poor at prices far above market value.

Kestutis Treciokas, environment minister, was questioned by the Lithuanian Special Investigations Service (STT) due to allegedly illegal influence while adopting a governmental decision on protecting resort areas.

Both Baltraitiene and Treciokas commented later on Wednesday they did not see any need to resign.

"Our president is not the one who speaks by hints, therefore, there was no direct call to resign," Treciokas was quoted as saying by local website vz.lt.

Butkevicius suggested waiting for law enforcement institutions to complete their probes before making decisions. Endit