Experts say costly ministry party will haunt Kaunas

Lithuania’s defence minister Robertas Kaunas is unlikely to lose his job over a ministry party that cost nearly 48,000 euros, but the controversy will follow him for a long time, political analysts told LRT.

The Ministry of National Defence event has drawn criticism from Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius, President Gitanas Nausėda and other politicians. Sinkevičius has said he trusts Kaunas, while the president’s office has not said whether Nausėda still has confidence in the minister.

Kaunas apologised to the public on Tuesday and said the ministry would introduce a new system to motivate staff. His initial response to the criticism also drew scrutiny: he compared the party’s cost with the expense of having a presidential aircraft, before later acknowledging that some things had not been handled properly.

Political scientist Vytautas Dumbliauskas said the controversy was unlikely to cost Kaunas his post, but that the public and political opponents would continue to remind him of it. He compared the situation with the “golden spoons” scandal associated with former minister Juozas Olekas.

Vytautas Dumbliauskas of Vytautas Magnus University said the prime minister’s position was the key factor and that Sinkevičius had already expressed his trust in Kaunas. He added that replacing a senior minister during budget negotiations and shortly before an upcoming chairmanship would be undesirable, particularly given the difficulty of finding a replacement for former minister Dovilė Šakalienė.

Nauseda has said he is waiting for an apology and a fuller explanation. His adviser said the president would meet with Kaunas to discuss the matter.