Lithuanian president lashes out at gov't for lack of political responsibility

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite criticized the country's government for the lack of political responsibility on Wednesday and indicated she is to apply to the constitutional court.

Grybauskaite reacted to the prime minister Algirdas Butkevicius' decision not to sack the environment minister Kestutis Treciokas amid controversy over the ministry's amendments on construction in resort territories.

"Butkevicius has personally taken the final responsibility for the controversial government's ruling on Vijunele estate and for the transparency of ministers' work," the president's office have conveyed Grybauskaite's opinion to BNS news agency.

"It's obvious, that the meaning of political responsibility is incomprehensible for this government," Grybauskaite said.

"Now, only the constitutional court can dispel the doubts," she added. The president's office has been preparing an appeal to the constitutional court, reports BNS.

On Wednesday, Butkevicius decided that Treciokas will continue working as the environment minister. Butkevicius cites the conclusions of the chief official ethics commission which have decided that there were no conflict of interests in Treciokas' actions.

"The environment minister will continue working," Butkevicius told local media noting he won't change his decision.

The country's environment minister and the prime minister have faced public criticism after law enforcement authorities had published telephone conversations between the cabinet members and the mayor of Druskininkai resort.

The mayor had been urging the environment minister to change the ruling on construction in resort territories which was important for Vijunele estate in Druskininkai. The minister had promised the changes that were later approved at the government. Endit