Šimonytė warns keeping Valys as finance minister will carry a high cost
Friday 23rd October 2026 on 09:15 in
Lithuania
Former prime minister Ingrida Šimonytė says retaining Taurimas Valys as finance minister could damage the government’s reputation and cost taxpayers, LRT reported. She questioned his competence and criticised the government’s proposed 2027 state budget.
Šimonytė said Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius could keep Valys in the post through the end of the government’s term, but warned that doing so would come at a high price for the government, the Social Democrats, the prime minister and Lithuanian taxpayers.
As a former finance minister, Šimonytė said managing public finances requires an understanding of the country’s overall financial position, as well as the ability to interpret figures and proportions. Without that knowledge, she said, it is difficult to avoid mistakes.
She also criticised the government’s proposed 2027 budget and the prime minister’s position on the planned public-sector deficit. By approving the draft, Sinkevičius was taking responsibility for its consequences, Šimonytė said, even if he did not want to discuss reducing spending to bring the deficit back within the 3% limit.
Šimonytė rejected the Social Democrats’ argument that the budget was focused on people’s needs. Budgets are funded by people through taxes and debt, she said, so both spending and its sources of funding must be considered.
Šimonytė doubts government will make major tax changes
Commenting on possible tax changes under consideration by Valys, Šimonytė said she doubted the government would take significant action to reduce the deficit. She described the discussion as likely to produce no decisions.
Valys has raised possible changes to excise duties on tobacco and alcohol, taxes on gambling, and higher taxes on polluting and expensive cars. He has also said the government could adjust property tax and review fuel excise duties.
Šimonytė said such individual changes would not be enough to address the growing deficit. She said the deficit was projected to reach 5% in 2028 and 2029 when items not included in the current budget were taken into account.