Šimonytė presented the Government program to the Seimas: it is clear that I fear

According to the prime minister-designate, previous governments’ programs were not so well executed that the new Cabinet would not have to return to the same issues. Saulius Skvernelis voiced such criticisms in the Seimas on Tuesday, evaluating the document.

“Already today we managed to hear the initial reactions: someone turned out to be someone else’s program, that the ambitions were too low or something else turned out. Perhaps it could suggest that our government plans a flight to the moon, but, unfortunately, the previous programs did not. they were implemented so well that the new government would not have to return to the same issues, ”I. Šimonytė told members of the Seimas.

According to her, the program of the future government has been prepared on the basis of the program provisions of all the coalition partners. I. Šimonytė emphasized that the new government does not come to make revolutions, therefore, according to her, good decisions with a broad consensus will not suffer if they are continued, they are not changed after each election.

“I do not see a very big objective to discuss whether the strategic investment fund is an element of the green program of the peasants, or if, nevertheless, it appeared in their program as an idea of ​​the National Union of the Seimas elections and the ideas of the 2015 elections “, emphasized I. Šimonytė.

The politician said that representatives of different political forces could objectively have different opinions, but, noted the head of the future government, no one can question the facts. According to her, having a broad consensus among politicians can help if you have as much data and information as possible.

“Without the data and the ability to perform normal analysis, we don’t have the ability to intelligently negotiate the solutions that produce the best results. (…) Consensus can probably be based on facts, and for that to happen, we need to have those facts. And here we must have as much data and as much objective information as possible ”, emphasized I. Šimonytė.

The prime minister-designate reiterated that a separate document for the management of the coronavirus pandemic has been produced, which will be published in the near future.

“The answer would be very simple. The coronavirus is mentioned more than once. Because if coronavir is addressed in the coming years, the consequences will be very long-lasting. And given the short-term measures, taking into account that the Government does not have planned to act in emergency situations, we are ready to present them in a separate document, ”said the Prime Minister.

The full government program is available here.

When is the program implementation plan?

The conservative Mykolas Majauskas, citing, as he called “a famous political classic”, Andrius Kubilius, said that Lithuania was lucky with a new government of this kind. M. Majauskas asked the future Prime Minister when the new Government would present the plan for the implementation of the program.

In turn, I. Šimonytė responded that after the approval of the government program, he will have three months to present the implementation plan of what is established in the document. The prime minister-designate did not hide the fact that the entire new Cabinet has received many proposals from various groups in society.

“I believe that at that stage, each minister will have much more time to meet with non-governmental organizations, partner structures and interest groups. One should not be afraid to discuss with them, but do so in a transparent and open way and discuss whatever proposals are. (…) I believe that the work will begin shortly after the Government receives the mandate, ”said I. Šimonytė, emphasizing that priority is given to the presentation of the state budget for next year and the management of the pandemic.

I had to answer about my fears

Eugenijus Gentvilas, the eldest of the Liberal Movement faction, asked if I. Šimonytė was not afraid of becoming unpopular, in the name of good works.

“If the question is if I am not afraid, it is clear that I am afraid. I am a normal person and I am afraid. But it seems to me that there is a political duty here. If you are afraid and do nothing, you will do nothing. (…) If you feel in front of yourself, then that fear is compensated with other things ”, said the Prime Minister.

I. Šimonytė explained that one of the biggest mistakes made by the Andrius Kubilius government was communication.

“We would pay close attention to the principles of communication, openness, I look forward to cooperation not only in the Cabinet of the Government, but also in communication representatives in different institutions,” explained I. Šimonytė to the members of the Seimas.

Wants to see fewer promises: ministers are not magicians

The prime minister-designate received a question from the group’s fellow conservative, Mindaugas Lingė, about how she would like people to remember her rule four years from now.

I. Šimonytė responded to this question by emphasizing that it is extremely important to maintain trust in the government in the eyes of the public.

“I do not know if in five years we will be able to see if it will take longer, but personally I would like to see such a change in society that people would stop electing a new government and give it a mandate, they would hate it the next day.” And I don’t care at all if it’s this power or another power. I want us to become a society that gives those who try a chance, “said I. Šimonytė.

As a result, the future head of government said, politicians are less promising to the public.

“I think it is important for us to promise less because there is no Miracle Government. Here at Hogwarts, we have no sticks, no spells, no way to reduce, move, or increase items with spells. But I think the members of this team know how to speak, listen and listen. It is worth the effort and taking the time to find the best possible solution ”, summed up the incoming prime minister.

The pandemic was not forgotten either

After the questions from the Seimas members began, the Prime Minister and his Cabinet of Ministers had to answer many questions about the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Future Health Minister Arūnas Dulkys mentioned one of the reasons why Lithuania is fighting against the coronavirus.

“I was looking forward to many questions about the pandemic. Because this crisis has undressed and shown not only the consequences, but also the reasons why our healthcare system has reacted so strongly to this crisis. And perhaps we have not been able to allow the private sector to contribute to the solution of the crisis ”, taught the future Minister of Health A. Dulkys to the members of the Seimas.

The government program consideration course

The Prime Minister will present to the Seimas the Government Program prepared and the Government formed by him and approved by the President of the Republic no later than 15 days after his appointment.

When presenting the Government program, the Prime Minister may speak in a session of the Seimas for up to 40 minutes. A total of one and a half hours is allotted to answer the questions. Questions can be addressed to the Prime Minister or to any of the Ministers.

Once presented, the Government program is reviewed by the Seimas factions and Seimas committees, who have the right to invite the Prime Minister or Minister to answer questions about the Government program at a time agreed with them.

The new government is authorized to act when the Seimas, by a majority of the members of the Seimas present at the session, approves its program. Subsequently, the members of the Government must take the oath in the Seimas in accordance with the procedure established by the Government Law.

If the Government program is not approved or is returned to the Government for improvement, a new version of the Government program must be submitted to Seimas within 10 days and its consideration procedure repeated.

If the Seimas does not approve the newly formed government’s program twice in a row, the government would have to resign.