[ad_1]
Politicians suspect that the Conservatives are pursuing the goal that Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė can join the Lithuanian representation on certain long-term issues, not only violating the procedures provided in the Seimas, but also by cunning and humiliating MPs. . On the other hand, the social democrat Gintautas Paluckas, who signed the request sent to the ethics guard of the Seimas, is outraged that the conservatives are trying to resolve the issue of the representation of the EVS with the Presidency not only ignoring the statute of the Seimas, but also by converting representatives of the opposition. in “hostages of conflict”.
It is the representation in the EVS that has been one of the issues that lately has obscured the relationship between the rulers and the president. Despite calls for EVS to share responsibility with the Prime Minister, the President is reluctant and sees no reason to talk about changes in this regard.
Suspicions arose from what conservatives called the return of constitutional powers to the ERC
The ERC’s decision last week suspected that five members of the European Affairs Committee chaired by the conservative Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė would not only approve Lithuania’s positions before each EVS meeting, but would also make recommendations on who should head the Lithuanian delegation. . Until then, the Seimas committee before the next EVS only approved Lithuania’s positions on individual issues, but did not comment on the composition of the delegation.
Such correction was adopted after a certificate prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) at the request of the ERC, which, according to the conservatives, establishes that all the instruments are already in the hands of the rulers to prevent President G. Nausėda to represent Lithuania in the European Council.
Therefore, although some conservatives have treated an ERC decision as a return of constitutional powers to the ERC, opposition MPs argue that the decision is not only illegal, but was made in a cunning and deliberate way to avoid the debate.
He sees deception: he claims he learned of the decision on behalf of the committee through the media
In a dedicated request to the Ethics and Procedures Committee of the Seimas, opposition MPs belonging to the European Affairs Committee write that on March 24. Two topics were discussed at the joint closed meeting of the ERC and the CEC: the Minister’s previous report on the EU General Affairs Council videoconference and the presentation of Lithuania’s positions before March 25-26. the next EVS. According to the MPs in the letter, both issues were approved by consensus at the committee meeting.
However, the Seimas members explain that they were surprised to see information in the media that in the same session it was decided that the ERC would not only approve Lithuania’s positions before each EVS meeting, but would also provide recommendations on who should head the Lithuanian delegation. .
“The participants of the joint meeting of the ERC and the CEC were not informed that any decision has been made on the extension of the competence of the committees and new practices (…). It was not possible to understand the solution proposed in the announced agenda for the meeting, ”the speech to the Ethics and Procedures Committee was written.
According to the parliamentarians, the minutes signed by the presidents of the ERC and the CEC show that not only the two decisions of the joint commissions mentioned above, which were on the agenda, are recorded, but also another decision, taking into account the 24-25 March appointment. Agenda of the EVN, to recommend to the Government that it order the presentation of the positions approved in the commissions by the President.
“It is not clear how the decision could have been recorded in the committee meeting minutes.
“By consensus”, if the chairmen of the session did not even formulate it as a separate topic, did not provide opportunities for adequate preparation (according to the program known in advance by those present), discussion (not the committee members to discuss this issue) and separate vote “, – members of the Seimas.
According to the parliamentarians belonging to the ERC, the commission not only does not have the competence to resolve these types of issues, but, according to them, the question also arises as to whether the rights of the members of the Seimas have not been violated.
“We have reason to believe that this may be a flawed breach of the customary practice of organizing or recording committee work, a substantial violation of the committees’ intended decision-making procedures, and the rights of Seimas members to participate. in decision-making, “the document said.
“We ask the Seimas Ethics and Procedures Commission to investigate and evaluate whether the decision was actually taken and, if so, whether the decision was duly adopted and recorded,” summarized the deputies who signed it: the social democrat Gintautas Paluckas, Tomas Tomilinas, representing the group “campesinos”, Lukas Savicas, Giedrius Surplys and the “employee” Mindaugas Puidokas.
G. Paluckas: We have become hostages of the Conservatives and the Presidency
Social Democrat G. Paluck is outraged that conservatives have included members of the ERC opposition in their struggles for the presidency. The politician says that, in his opinion, it is not a coincidence that the ERC leadership discussed the issue of representation in the EVS very fluently with the committee members. As Mr. Paluck points out that this issue is sensitive, it simply needed to be discussed in depth in committee.
“Sometimes it happens in committee meetings that some things appear in the post-meeting minutes. But it is usually a matter of consensus and unambiguous. In other words, such things exist as long as there are no misunderstandings. In this case, I think it was a deliberate attempt not to provoke a debate and to resolve this issue in a gentle and quiet way during the census. This is not possible, especially if you see that the problem is serious. This is the same as hiding a beer in a bag “G. Paluck told Eltai. Also, the emphasis is on politicians, and questions are raised as to whether the committee could have made such a decision at all.
According to the Social Democrat, the current situation not only creates a faulty practice, but also compromises Seimas himself.
“The situation is particularly bad because this issue (representation in EVT – ELTA) obviously requires amendments to the law or clarifications by the Constitutional Court. It is not possible to compromise the activities of the Seimas Committee with such procedural games, because the Seimas Committee, both in my opinion and the colleagues who signed, certainly did not have the authority and competence to determine the composition of the delegations and the head of delegations, ”explained G. Paluckas.
According to him, the logic of the decisions that led to the decision of the ERC meeting that the committee will not only approve Lithuania’s positions before each EVS meeting, but will also provide recommendations on who should lead the Lithuanian delegation, shows a constant satisfaction of conservative interests.
“He is preparing a certificate for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he is being substituted in the committee … After all, it is the same political force: the Conservatives. Minister Landsbergis delivers a certificate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a member of the Conservatives and president of the ERC (Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė – ELTA), while acknowledging that members of the opposition forces in the ERC have become something of a hostage in the conflict between the conservatives and the presidency.
“I say honestly, yes, common law (on behalf of EVT – ELTA) must end, but consensus is needed … After all, if you want a clearer definition of law, you need a law and debate or interpretation by the Constitutional Court … hostages and participants in the conflict ”, summarized the politician.
ERC president denies the accusations: there were no objections
Meanwhile, the president of ERC, the largest of the conservative faction in the Seimas R. Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė, assures that the discontent expressed by the opposition representatives is unfounded. According to her, there were no procedural irregularities in the discussion of the SVE issue, much less a change in the practice of representation in SVE when making a decision on behalf of the Astucia Committee, which is directly related to the interest of the conservatives . .
“I don’t know what could have been wrong, because I (question – ELTA) probed, asked if there were contradictions … Nobody said there were. The wording as it sounded was also written, ”the politician told Eltai.
According to her, there is no reason to believe that there was a deliberate attempt to bring the issue of representation to the EVS smoothly at a committee meeting. According to her, this is also demonstrated by the reactions of parliamentarians at the ERC meeting, which will probably have to be reassessed by the Seimas ethics guards.
“It was necessary to react, I asked if it was possible to reach an agreement by consensus. The pause was long enough, I saw colleagues shaking their heads on the screen, ”he said.
In addition, the politician pointed out that at that time the members of the commission had already received a certificate prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, based on which the decision had been made to make recommendations before each EVS meeting on who should lead the Lithuanian delegation.
“There were no objections from a member of the Seimas. It is strange for me to hear such accusations,” summarized R. Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė.
No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of ELTA.
[ad_2]
