VILNIUS — In a surprising move, Lithuania’s Minister of Health Algis Čaplikas resigned Wednesday despite maintaining the prime minister’s support during the Skikas scandal.

Čaplikas did not mention the recent conviction of his Vice Minister Artūras Skikas, who admitted to accepting a 20,000 litai (€5,790) bribe last week. Čaplikas has not been implicated in the affair. Instead Čaplikas blamed the prime minister’s Homeland Union/Christian Democrats Party lack of support in keeping him in the position while reforming the health sector as prompting his resignation.

“Seeing that the largest group, Homeland Union/Christian Democrats, do not support my [private_supervisor]handling health care reform, I have resigned from the post,” Čaplikas told the press Wednesday.

Homeland Union/Christian Democrats in-fighting?

Only on Monday, Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius said Čaplikas should stay in office.

“I see no reason why he should resign. From the information received from law enforcement agencies, I see no reason,” Kubilius said.

However, Speaker of the Seimas Irena Degutienė, also a Homeland Union/Christian Democrats member, pressed for his ouster repeatedly on the grounds of “political responsibility” in light of the Skikas scandal and because his now tainted leadership may find trouble implementing health sector reform.

Lithuania’s health care is primarily state-run, and many health professionals say it’s rife with bribery. The Lithuanian government is looking to streamline services and counter corruption.

The resignation raises questions about the stability of Kubilius’ coalition, which is increasingly unpopular with the electorate and in the midst of enacting painful austerity measures to shore up a budget deficit fomented by the economic crisis. Čaplikas is the second minister to leave in a month. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas left his position in January after President Dalia Grybauskaitė declared that she no longer had confidence in him.

However Čaplikas’ party, the Liberal and Center Union, said it would remain in the coalition Wednesday.

Investigation ongoing

While Čaplikas is yet to be implicated for any malfeasance, other health ministry are under investigation for corruption. On Wednesday’s Lithuania’s anti-corruption task force Special Investigation Services seized several documents from the Ministry of Health building as part of an ongoing investigation of Algis Sasnauskas, the state patient fund director, for misappropriating funds.
[/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]handling health care reform, I have resigned from the post,” Čaplikas told the press Wednesday.

Homeland Union/Christian Democrats in-fighting?

Only on Monday, Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius said Čaplikas should stay in office.

“I see no reason why he should resign. From the information received from law enforcement agencies, I see no reason,” Kubilius said.

However, Speaker of the Seimas Irena Degutienė, also a Homeland Union/Christian Democrats member, pressed for his ouster repeatedly on the grounds of “political responsibility” in light of the Skikas scandal and because his now tainted leadership may find trouble implementing health sector reform.

Lithuania’s health care is primarily state-run, and many health professionals say it’s rife with bribery. The Lithuanian government is looking to streamline services and counter corruption.

The resignation raises questions about the stability of Kubilius’ coalition, which is increasingly unpopular with the electorate and in the midst of enacting painful austerity measures to shore up a budget deficit fomented by the economic crisis. Čaplikas is the second minister to leave in a month. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas left his position in January after President Dalia Grybauskaitė declared that she no longer had confidence in him.

However Čaplikas’ party, the Liberal and Center Union, said it would remain in the coalition Wednesday.

Investigation ongoing

While Čaplikas is yet to be implicated for any malfeasance, other health ministry are under investigation for corruption. On Wednesday’s Lithuania’s anti-corruption task force Special Investigation Services seized several documents from the Ministry of Health building as part of an ongoing investigation of Algis Sasnauskas, the state patient fund director, for misappropriating funds.[/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]handling health care reform, I have resigned from the post,” Čaplikas told the press Wednesday.

Homeland Union/Christian Democrats in-fighting?

Only on Monday, Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius said Čaplikas should stay in office.

“I see no reason why he should resign. From the information received from law enforcement agencies, I see no reason,” Kubilius said.

However, Speaker of the Seimas Irena Degutienė, also a Homeland Union/Christian Democrats member, pressed for his ouster repeatedly on the grounds of “political responsibility” in light of the Skikas scandal and because his now tainted leadership may find trouble implementing health sector reform.

Lithuania’s health care is primarily state-run, and many health professionals say it’s rife with bribery. The Lithuanian government is looking to streamline services and counter corruption.

The resignation raises questions about the stability of Kubilius’ coalition, which is increasingly unpopular with the electorate and in the midst of enacting painful austerity measures to shore up a budget deficit fomented by the economic crisis. Čaplikas is the second minister to leave in a month. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas left his position in January after President Dalia Grybauskaitė declared that she no longer had confidence in him.

However Čaplikas’ party, the Liberal and Center Union, said it would remain in the coalition Wednesday.

Investigation ongoing

While Čaplikas is yet to be implicated for any malfeasance, other health ministry are under investigation for corruption. On Wednesday’s Lithuania’s anti-corruption task force Special Investigation Services seized several documents from the Ministry of Health building as part of an ongoing investigation of Algis Sasnauskas, the state patient fund director, for misappropriating funds.[/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]handling health care reform, I have resigned from the post,” Čaplikas told the press Wednesday.

Homeland Union/Christian Democrats in-fighting?

Only on Monday, Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius said Čaplikas should stay in office.

“I see no reason why he should resign. From the information received from law enforcement agencies, I see no reason,” Kubilius said.

However, Speaker of the Seimas Irena Degutienė, also a Homeland Union/Christian Democrats member, pressed for his ouster repeatedly on the grounds of “political responsibility” in light of the Skikas scandal and because his now tainted leadership may find trouble implementing health sector reform.

Lithuania’s health care is primarily state-run, and many health professionals say it’s rife with bribery. The Lithuanian government is looking to streamline services and counter corruption.

The resignation raises questions about the stability of Kubilius’ coalition, which is increasingly unpopular with the electorate and in the midst of enacting painful austerity measures to shore up a budget deficit fomented by the economic crisis. Čaplikas is the second minister to leave in a month. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas left his position in January after President Dalia Grybauskaitė declared that she no longer had confidence in him.

However Čaplikas’ party, the Liberal and Center Union, said it would remain in the coalition Wednesday.

Investigation ongoing

While Čaplikas is yet to be implicated for any malfeasance, other health ministry are under investigation for corruption. On Wednesday’s Lithuania’s anti-corruption task force Special Investigation Services seized several documents from the Ministry of Health building as part of an ongoing investigation of Algis Sasnauskas, the state patient fund director, for misappropriating funds.[/private_subscription 1 year]

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