Future Democratic ministers to audit subordinate institutions

Future ministers from the Democratic Union “For Lithuania” will conduct corruption risk assessments and audits of institutions under their ministries, party interim leader Virginijus Sinkevičius told journalists at the Seimas on Thursday, as reported by LRT.

Sinkevičius stated that the audits would help identify risks and potentially lead to restructuring or elimination of redundant agencies. “Democratic ministers will definitely conduct corruption risk assessments and audits of the institutions surrounding the ministries. And, of course, seeing these risks, we will seek to eliminate them as much as possible,” he said.

With the Democrats returning to the ruling coalition, the party is set to lead the ministries of Energy, Health, and Agriculture. Earlier, Sinkevičius suggested dissolving the State Plant Service (VAT), a subordinate agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, due to its involvement in a corruption scandal. He proposed transferring its functions to the State Food and Veterinary Service.

“The example of the Plant Service shows that very often we don’t even know what these organizations are or what functions they perform. I think such redundant organizations should disappear from the state map,” Sinkevičius said.

He emphasized that the elimination of unclear agencies would help optimize public finances and avoid corruption risks. “If we have an institution where corruption has thrived for 20 years, I don’t understand why it still exists without a leader. It’s a strange structure. I think it would be logical to eliminate it,” he added.

Sinkevičius noted that more agencies could face restructuring or dissolution, depending on the results of the corruption risk assessments and audits. The State Plant Service is currently at the center of a large-scale corruption case, involving former Agriculture Minister Kazys Starkevičius, who admitted to taking a bribe. The prosecution has also accused former Prime Minister and Democratic Union leader Saulius Skvernelis of accepting a €51,000 bribe.

Last December, authorities detained 13 individuals in a major corruption probe at the Plant Service. The number of suspects later increased to 15. According to law enforcement, the investigation revealed that representatives of companies transporting plants and plant products were systematically demanded and received large bribes for phytosanitary certificates issued to cargo carriers.