VILNIUS — The culture minister’s own political party is demanding that he resign and has approached the prime minister to sack him if he doesn’t voluntarily walk out.

The political situation of late has been tumultuous with jockeying in the Seimas and new ministers to boot. If the minister were to resign, it would be the fifth change in the Cabinet of this government, which is only halfway through its term. If half of the ministers change in the government, it can be dissolved and a [private_supervisor]new government formed. There are 14 ministries in Lithuania.

Chairman of the National Resurrection Party Arūnas Valinskas said his party wants Minister of Culture Remigijus Vilkaitis to stand down. They are yet to state their reasons why.

The party waited until Vilkaitis was out of the country before springing the news upon the government and Seimas. The minister is currently in Croatia on a week-long working visit.

Valinskas made a veiled threat saying that if the minister stayed in his post, that they would have to consider their cooperation in the coalition. The coalition, which holds all the government posts, is on shaky ground having recently lost their formal majority.

Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius told the party, who are all inexperienced politicians who joined politics after careers in the entertainment business, that ministers are not “coffee cups or socks” and that you can’t just change them whenever you want.

Kubilius said he was waiting for a compelling argument why the party suddenly wants the minister to resign.

“Of course, the party that delegated the minister has the right to express an opinion, but also must assume responsibility because they chose their own minister. I have already said that the ministers are not coffee cups, that they can just change on a whim,” Kubilius said.

Valinskas — who is no stranger to being ousted from a prominent position, having been voted out from the Seimas speaker position in September after being accused of giving sensitive information to crime gangs — said that the minister has to go and its not a question of if, but when.

“Our group and our party does not see the minister working further for this government,” Valinskas said, but refused to discuss nominations for his replacement, should he go.

Kubilius is expected to meet with Vilkaitis when he returns to the country on Monday. Ministers in the government must be approved by the president of the country, who is yet to comment about the issue.

The National Resurrection Party has seven seats in the Seimas and holds the minister of environment and minister of culture positions. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]new government formed. There are 14 ministries in Lithuania.

Chairman of the National Resurrection Party Arūnas Valinskas said his party wants Minister of Culture Remigijus Vilkaitis to stand down. They are yet to state their reasons why.

The party waited until Vilkaitis was out of the country before springing the news upon the government and Seimas. The minister is currently in Croatia on a week-long working visit.

Valinskas made a veiled threat saying that if the minister stayed in his post, that they would have to consider their cooperation in the coalition. The coalition, which holds all the government posts, is on shaky ground having recently lost their formal majority.

Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius told the party, who are all inexperienced politicians who joined politics after careers in the entertainment business, that ministers are not “coffee cups or socks” and that you can’t just change them whenever you want.

Kubilius said he was waiting for a compelling argument why the party suddenly wants the minister to resign.

“Of course, the party that delegated the minister has the right to express an opinion, but also must assume responsibility because they chose their own minister. I have already said that the ministers are not coffee cups, that they can just change on a whim,” Kubilius said.

Valinskas — who is no stranger to being ousted from a prominent position, having been voted out from the Seimas speaker position in September after being accused of giving sensitive information to crime gangs — said that the minister has to go and its not a question of if, but when.

“Our group and our party does not see the minister working further for this government,” Valinskas said, but refused to discuss nominations for his replacement, should he go.

Kubilius is expected to meet with Vilkaitis when he returns to the country on Monday. Ministers in the government must be approved by the president of the country, who is yet to comment about the issue.

The National Resurrection Party has seven seats in the Seimas and holds the minister of environment and minister of culture positions. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]new government formed. There are 14 ministries in Lithuania.

Chairman of the National Resurrection Party Arūnas Valinskas said his party wants Minister of Culture Remigijus Vilkaitis to stand down. They are yet to state their reasons why.

The party waited until Vilkaitis was out of the country before springing the news upon the government and Seimas. The minister is currently in Croatia on a week-long working visit.

Valinskas made a veiled threat saying that if the minister stayed in his post, that they would have to consider their cooperation in the coalition. The coalition, which holds all the government posts, is on shaky ground having recently lost their formal majority.

Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius told the party, who are all inexperienced politicians who joined politics after careers in the entertainment business, that ministers are not “coffee cups or socks” and that you can’t just change them whenever you want.

Kubilius said he was waiting for a compelling argument why the party suddenly wants the minister to resign.

“Of course, the party that delegated the minister has the right to express an opinion, but also must assume responsibility because they chose their own minister. I have already said that the ministers are not coffee cups, that they can just change on a whim,” Kubilius said.

Valinskas — who is no stranger to being ousted from a prominent position, having been voted out from the Seimas speaker position in September after being accused of giving sensitive information to crime gangs — said that the minister has to go and its not a question of if, but when.

“Our group and our party does not see the minister working further for this government,” Valinskas said, but refused to discuss nominations for his replacement, should he go.

Kubilius is expected to meet with Vilkaitis when he returns to the country on Monday. Ministers in the government must be approved by the president of the country, who is yet to comment about the issue.

The National Resurrection Party has seven seats in the Seimas and holds the minister of environment and minister of culture positions. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]new government formed. There are 14 ministries in Lithuania.

Chairman of the National Resurrection Party Arūnas Valinskas said his party wants Minister of Culture Remigijus Vilkaitis to stand down. They are yet to state their reasons why.

The party waited until Vilkaitis was out of the country before springing the news upon the government and Seimas. The minister is currently in Croatia on a week-long working visit.

Valinskas made a veiled threat saying that if the minister stayed in his post, that they would have to consider their cooperation in the coalition. The coalition, which holds all the government posts, is on shaky ground having recently lost their formal majority.

Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius told the party, who are all inexperienced politicians who joined politics after careers in the entertainment business, that ministers are not “coffee cups or socks” and that you can’t just change them whenever you want.

Kubilius said he was waiting for a compelling argument why the party suddenly wants the minister to resign.

“Of course, the party that delegated the minister has the right to express an opinion, but also must assume responsibility because they chose their own minister. I have already said that the ministers are not coffee cups, that they can just change on a whim,” Kubilius said.

Valinskas — who is no stranger to being ousted from a prominent position, having been voted out from the Seimas speaker position in September after being accused of giving sensitive information to crime gangs — said that the minister has to go and its not a question of if, but when.

“Our group and our party does not see the minister working further for this government,” Valinskas said, but refused to discuss nominations for his replacement, should he go.

Kubilius is expected to meet with Vilkaitis when he returns to the country on Monday. Ministers in the government must be approved by the president of the country, who is yet to comment about the issue.

The National Resurrection Party has seven seats in the Seimas and holds the minister of environment and minister of culture positions. [/private_subscription 1 year]

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