Defence ministry to appoint new deputy minister after government reshuffle

Lithuania’s Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas says a new deputy minister will be appointed only after the government reshuffle is complete, LRT reports.

“We probably shouldn’t rush with internal matters now. We need to first finalise issues concerning the entire government and all ministries, and then make decisions about deputy ministers. (…) The selection is happening in any case, but for now, the processes are just running in parallel,” Kaunas told the Seimas on Thursday.

“Once all conditions are agreed with coalition partners, once all ministers and the prime minister are clear, then we can move forward,” the Social Democrat added.

Earlier this month, Deputy Defence Minister Tomas Godliauskas, who oversaw total defence issues, stepped down. He said he had initiated the change himself, with the decision maturing over several months.

Last weekend, the Social Democratic Party decided to end its coalition with the “Nemuno aušra” party and instead join the majority by inviting the Democratic Union “For Lithuania”. The move followed “Nemuno aušra” representatives voting against the establishment of the Kapčiamiestis training ground, criticism from the party’s leader Remigijus Žemaitaitis towards ministers and coalition decisions, and controversial public statements. Žemaitaitis has also been convicted in a first-instance court for antisemitism.