Lithuanian acting party leader calls Skvernelis’ political career end statement emotional

Acting leader of the Democratic Party “For the Sake of Lithuania” Virginijus Sinkevičius has dismissed former Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis’ declaration that his political career is over as an “emotional statement,” suggesting the embattled politician could yet return to public life, LRT.lt reports.

Speaking to the news portal 15min on Tuesday, Sinkevičius acknowledged that while Skvernelis may currently feel his career has ended, politics operates in cycles. “One day it may seem one way, the next it could be completely different,” he said, urging caution in interpreting the remarks.

Sinkevičius pointed to precedents of Lithuanian politicians, such as former Health Minister Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, who resigned amid allegations but later successfully returned to politics after legal vindication. “This wouldn’t be something absolutely impossible or unprecedented,” he noted, emphasising Skvernelis’ past popularity and strength as a politician.

The comments follow Skvernelis’ denial of wrongdoing in a high-profile corruption case, where prosecutors allege he accepted a €51,000 bribe from his former advisor Agnė Silickienė in exchange for political favours. Skvernelis, who currently retains parliamentary immunity, has rejected all accusations. On Tuesday, Prosecutor General Nida Grunskienė formally requested that the Seimas (parliament) lift his immunity to allow further investigation.

Sinkevičius welcomed Skvernelis’ public statement as a step toward clarity, noting that the prolonged silence had created a “vacuum filled with various theories.” He also downplayed Skvernelis’ earlier criticism of the new party leadership’s proposal for him to leave the parliamentary faction, attributing it to the “difficult period” the politician is facing.

The case stems from a large-scale corruption probe into the State Plant Service, where officials are accused of systematically extorting bribes from companies transporting plants and agricultural products in exchange for phytosanitary certificates. Investigators have conducted searches in Skvernelis’ parliamentary office and home, along with those of conservative MP Kazys Starkevičius. Fourteen individuals are now under suspicion in the widening investigation.