Valys says budget work keeps him from committee meetings

Lithuanian Finance Minister Taurimas Valys says he has missed meetings of parliamentary factions and committees because he is focused on coordinating the state budget, LRT reported.

“Members of parliament should coordinate with me and check whether I can attend,” Valys told reporters at parliament on Wednesday. He said that if he was not even travelling to meetings of the European Economic and Financial Affairs Council, it was because he had more important work to do: finalising the budget.

Conservative and liberal opposition groups, the Nemuno Aušra faction and the Peasants had invited Valys to their meetings. His team cancelled them, citing a busy schedule. The minister said he remained in contact with MPs and would have an opportunity on Thursday to answer their questions.

At Wednesday’s meeting of parliament’s Budget and Finance Committee, Liberal MP Simonas Gentvilas proposed asking the prime minister to require Valys to attend committee meetings. The committee voted against the proposal.

Parliament Speaker Juozas Olekas said Valys was working intensively but was not inaccessible, as he took part in parliamentary sessions designated for the government.