Lithuanian president expects gov't to finish term amid corruption scandal

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said Wednesday it would be irresponsible to change the country's government a few months before the parliamentary elections amid ongoing corruption scandals in the ruling coalition.

"It would be irresponsible to change the government seven months before the elections. I hope that this government is able to finish the term," the president told a press conference.

Lithuania's parliamentary elections are scheduled in October.

Talking to local media, Grybauskaite declined to comment on whether she trusts the government but emphasized that social democrat-led government must take responsibility for the ongoing public discussions.

In recent months, Lithuania's ruling coalition has faced several corruption scandals involving the members of the cabinet and its political partners.

Last week, Grybauskaite asked the country's prime minister to strictly scrutinize the environment minister's involvement with "possible non-transparent processes."

More than a week ago, Rolandas Paksas, the leader of the ruling coalition party Order and Justice and the ousted president of Lithuania, was interrogated as a special witness in an investigation on trade in influence.

A month earlier, Lithuania's health minister and a member of social democrat party Rimante Salaseviciute, announced on her resignation after publicly admitting she bribed a doctor a few years ago. Endit