Skvernelis – on the relationship with Karbauskis: a question between us remained unanswered

On Tuesday, S. Skvernelis, former prime minister and member of the LVŽS faction, spoke about current and past political issues on Radijo Žinių’s “Persona grata” program.

Praised the president’s annual report

S. Skvernelis was interviewed shortly after President Gitan Nausėda al Seimas’s annual report. The politician recalled how, already as prime minister, he heard the annual report of President Dalia Grybauskaitė for the first time.

“Very often, in the president’s annual reports, a lot applies to the government, both between the lines and directly. Those reports were mixed. The first was when we had worked in the government for about half a year, then the president published texts in bold. in the first report, ”recalled S. Skvernelis.

It did not hide the fact that, under the leadership of the Government, the criticisms expressed in the annual reports could be captivating.

“You can’t be offended, but you feel overwhelmed, especially when it comes to an unreasonable and unfounded criticism or observation, without any foundation. So it overwhelms you, but otherwise it’s not like you listen and don’t pay attention. Today I asked relaxed. It was a very good report, it touched all areas of life, ”said a member of Seimas.

The politician liked the accent of the head of state, who said that under the guise of a pandemic, nothing else happens in the country. According to S. Skvernelis, President G. Nausėda correctly organized the most important points.

“The transformation of the then opposition, which now governs, was very correctly observed, how languages, actions and works changed. (…) Duplicity is shown, “said the former prime minister.

When asked if the working methods of G. Nausėda and D. Grybauskaitė are very different, S. Skvernelis answered affirmatively, emphasizing that they are dealing with people of different character in general.

“Many people thought it was very difficult to work with that president, she was strict and similar. No, the president had a strong character, but she, as I understand and saw, did not like cowards. She might not agree with that point of view, but there was some respect. “He was a difficult person in nature, and it is completely different to communicate with the president in a human way, but again, what are you trying to do in politics? Of course, it is very important, but interpersonal relationships are probably not in the first place. place, “Skvernelis said.

However, he recognized that D. Grybauskaitė, according to the politician, was better able to accompany his words with actions and achieve results.

A significant change in shifting responsibilities

According to S. Skvernelis, the change in their duties has also changed dramatically.

“The job of the Prime Minister is the most difficult and responsible in the country, here probably everyone recognizes it: from the President to the Speaker of the Seimas and the Minister. It is the greatest responsibility when it comes to knowing what solutions are needed in all cases of life. Finally, if you do not know, it is to consult, but still make final decisions. You are responsible for everything, for which you are not responsible, you are still responsible, “he said.

Now, according to the politician, you may feel a little more relaxed at work, as you no longer have constant stress.

“Now those tensions no longer exist, the constant stress (…) that comes from the other extremes. Now there is no protection, maybe someone seems to really like riding on the headlights, it is very nice here. That is not the case, “said the former head of government.

S. Skvernelis recalled that while working as Prime Minister, he tried not to stray too far from his normal life: he went to shops, visited events and played sports. Other prime ministers, he said, find it difficult to return to a normal life.

“If those people, and I know that has been the case, spend four years in that bubble, returning to normal life is a challenge and nobody cares. You are still prime minister on December 10, on December 11 you are nothing. Everything seems so simple. There is even such a paradox: you will be protected until December 10 from various threats that will not disappear anywhere on December 11, “said the parliamentarian.

S. Skvernelis noted that he was preparing to resign as head of government after the end of his term.

“It may have been easier for me, I was reconciled and determined to do it on the inside, but it is completely incomparable in life. Now you are independent, you are sitting, you have devised, you have done something at home and you have run out of milk, you are sitting in the car and you leave. “You cannot do that, you have to agree that I am going, that you have to go, you have to seek protection,” the politician recalled.

He was not ready to report the illness.

2019 In August, S. Skvernel admitted to journalists that he had been diagnosed with first-stage lymphoma and was receiving treatment: chemotherapy and immunotherapy. A politician who recalled him on Tuesday made no secret of the fact that he was considering resigning at the time.

“After that, I listened to those people who said that work can help a lot. When you are left alone with your illness, you think every day that it does not help you to fight. In the first place, it is the person and their psychological condition, the person himself is struggling, then the doctors who are treating, then there is a team for the general result ”, said the parliamentarian.

According to S. Skvernelis, the example of other people helped him not to give up.

“Almost the entire cycle I had to go through did not hurt me (disease – aut.p.). Yes, it is a challenge, it is not simple, chemistry is not a pill for pain – if it were not for certain complications that arise naturally in such a process, it is possible. There is no need to stigmatize and say that cancer patients cannot work, “said the parliamentarian.

He recalled that at that time, some observers, experts and politicians spoke publicly that it was difficult for S. Skvernelis to reconcile work and illness.

“These are disgusting people and disgusting actions, otherwise I cannot name them. I can be glad that they were few, I received support, solidarity, that was very important. I am very grateful to the doctors who took care of me, family, friends, relatives, colleagues from the Seimas, ministers who had to adapt to a different regime, ”said S. Skvernelis.

When asked if he was angry at the media at the time, forcing him to confess to the illness, S. Skvernel replied that he was simply not morally ready yet.

“It just came to our knowledge then. The little boy did not understand anything and his daughter understood, he says it is inevitable. I was forced to publish my diagnosis, but when the headlines said that Squernel had cancer, they were conversations between classmates”, admitted the politician.

Therefore, he said, the opportune moment was to wait for the public to announce this message.

“I was raped to say that, I think too soon,” said the former prime minister.

The previous government has been called a scandal by a swollen bubble

Recalling the scandals that rocked the previous government, S. Skvernelis said that they had been inflated, some of them to initiate political opponents.

“If I had to joke now, I would do it differently: I would participate and do the asphalt road. Nobody cares that only one part is done there. (…) It is a lie that it was in the prime minister’s house, at the expense of others, that several towns and those people do not have that right ”, the politician recalled the famous story of the paving of roads.

According to him, that part of the road, which is paved, is now used by many people: cyclists, fishermen, residents.

S. Skvernelis also calls the situation of former Minister of Transport and Communications Jaroslav Narkevičius the inflated scandals.

“It just came to our attention then. Now, does anyone wonder what that ‘fairy tale’ ended up with? All of Narkevičius’ investigations are over, there are no claims, no law enforcement, no taxes, (…). The man he was slandered to harm the entire government. That nonsense ended in nothing, “emphasized S. Skvernelis.

Although President G. Nausėda has repeatedly pressured S. Skvernelis to remove J. Narkevičius and his duties, the former prime minister does not regret not doing so. There were simply no arguments for that, he said.

“You cannot do and raise your political ranking without a tangible base or having to put material on the table,” said the politician.

He commented on the relationship with Karbauskis: a topic has not received answers yet

When asked if he plans to join LVŽS, S. Skvernelis answered negatively, but in the faction, according to him, he will continue to work.

“I am not a member of the party. If I had climbed and stuck, I probably would have been a former member of the group. There are many nuances that seem to be the same, and then there are other reasons … But I work in a group, there are really many people who do not he is in the party, we are colleagues in the group, with the absolute majority I am pleased to communicate both formally and informally, “he said.

However, with some members of the group “peasants”, admitted S. Skvernelis, does not support communication.

“It just came to our knowledge then. (…) Let’s not use the word ‘get angry’. It is politics, it is a question of attitude, it is a question of values, of tactics, I no longer speak of strategy. Everything happens”, said one member of the LVŽS faction.

Asked about his relationship with R. Sarbauskis, the president of the green peasant party, S. Skvernelis replied, noting that they respect each other.

“The years that we were together, especially the four years in which we had a lot of communication, because Ramūnas was in the Seimas, there were also sharper angles, but I think we respect each other, that respect remains and will remain all the time. Somewhere we are inferior to each other, somewhere we disagree with our position, somewhere we are radically different, let’s say which basketball team to support. We are comrades and I am grateful that the years we were in the Seimas have not been meaningless, “said the politician.

Currently, their communication, according to S. Skvernelis, is less frequent, because R. Karbauskis no longer works at the Seimas.

“Now we are in a different situation: there is opposition, a completely different gender. It should not be emphasized much if we are polished or not,” continued the parliamentarian.

However, on one subject, S. Skvernelis admitted, he has not yet received all the responses from R. Karbauskis. It is true that the politician did not reveal with whom he is related.

“It just came to our attention then. Well, maybe I don’t have the answers on a topic yet, but maybe two of us will one day find out where the deep doubt lies. Clearly, it was all, it’s politics: there were warmer times, more hotter and colder.

Especially after the presidential elections, the situation got complicated for various reasons, and the reevaluation of the government was not easy either. All kinds of thoughts occurred to me, it’s natural, but let’s not forget that there was another important factor at the time: my personal problems, “added S. Skvernelis.