Sinkevičius: Skvernelis must decide his political future if acquitted

If former party leader Saulius Skvernelis is acquitted in his ongoing legal case, he will have to decide for himself whether he still sees a future in politics or within the Democratic Union “For Lithuania,” party chairman Virginijus Sinkevičius said in an interview with LRT Television’s program “Savaitė”.

Sinkevičius, who was elected as the party’s permanent leader on Saturday, succeeded Skvernelis as interim head after the latter suspended his membership amid prosecutor allegations of possible bribery. Despite the circumstances, Sinkevičius described Skvernelis as an “extraordinary politician” and expressed hope that law enforcement institutions would conduct their work without interfering in political processes.

When asked about the differences between his leadership and that of Skvernelis, Sinkevičius emphasized that the party was never defined by a single individual. “This political force was not created by Saulius Skvernelis alone—it was founded by over four thousand people. And it will never become Virginijus Sinkevičius’ party either. It was never a one-person party, and it never will be,” he stated.

The primary challenge, he said, is restoring public trust in politics, noting that confidence in the field has “sharply declined” in Lithuania. He highlighted the difficulty of attracting strong candidates to politics, comparing the current situation to the early independence era when professionals such as doctors, teachers, and scientists entered public service. Today, he argued, the private sector offers more attractive salaries and less scrutiny, making political engagement less appealing.

Regarding Skvernelis’ potential return, Sinkevičius reiterated his hope for a fair legal process. “If Saulius is acquitted, he himself will have to answer whether he still sees himself in our political force or in politics at all,” he said, referencing Skvernelis’ past statements suggesting his political career might be over. Sinkevičius urged patience, stating that emotions must be set aside until the legal process concludes.

When pressed on whether he doubts Skvernelis’ guilt, Sinkevičius acknowledged the complexity of the situation but did not provide a direct answer.