Sinkevičius takes leave as mayor to avoid conflict of interest

Designated prime minister and Jonava district mayor Mindaugas Sinkevičius has taken leave from his municipal duties to avoid potential conflicts of interest, LRT reports.

Sinkevičius said he decided to take a break to prevent questions about whether he is fulfilling his mayoral responsibilities while also preparing to assume the role of prime minister.

“I will definitely take leave this week. Next week we’ll see based on need, but most likely this is to avoid any elements of public and private interest conflicts, complaints, and all other issues. I simply do not want to get into a situation where I am somewhere in parliament but still officially the mayor, and then someone could ask why this is the case and why taxpayers are paying my salary as mayor while I am not fully performing those duties,” Sinkevičius told journalists in Jonava on Tuesday.

Sinkevičius was appointed prime minister on Tuesday. Under Lithuanian law, the designated prime minister must present the government’s programme to the Seimas (parliament) within 15 days of appointment. The government will receive its mandate once the Seimas approves its programme by a majority vote of participating members.