Guardians of ethics: S. Skvernelis and V. Šapoka did not violate the Seimas Statute by ignoring the problems of the opposition



[ad_1]

On April 23, Prime Minister S.Svvernelis and Finance Minister V.Šapoka had to answer questions from parliamentarians about the evidence of politicians at COVID-19, paved on Upės Street, where the Prime Minister lives, candidacy of the Minister of Economy and Innovation, economic promotion plan, state establishment of one bank and another.

Both S. Skvernelis and V. Šapoka refused to do so, doubting whether the issues raised were particularly important and emphasizing that they were asked to answer more than one question. Both asked Seimas members to choose one of the questions and explain what particularly important problem it poses.

According to the Seimas Statute, 10 parliamentarians can present a question to a member of the Government about a particularly important problem with the requirement that it be answered during the same session.

The Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance did not answer the questions during the Seimas session, and also assured that at the same time another meeting of the COVID-19 situation management committee is taking place, which is expected to take immediate decisions. .

Opposition representatives were outraged by the behavior of members of the Cabinet of Ministers, but asked some of their questions during Government Hour.

The behavior of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance was considered by Seimas’s ethics guards on Wednesday. The conclusions on his behavior were prepared by Aušra Papirtienė, a “peasant”, and Petras Čimbaras, a representative of a group of members of the Mixed Seimas.

Introducing the findings, A. Papirtienė noted that, for example, Seimas members submitted five unrelated questions to the Prime Minister. S. Skvernelis allegedly warned that he would not be able to participate in the session because he had to be somewhere else, and also requested clarification of the issues in accordance with the Seimas Statute. In addition, two out of five questions asked in advance were answered by the Prime Minister during Government Hour.

Sigismund Gedvila / 15min photo / Aušra Papirtienė

Sigismund Gedvila / 15min photo / Aušra Papirtienė

The drafters of the conclusions suggested that neither S.Skvernelis nor V.Šapoka had violated the provisions of the Seimas Statute. Eight members of the commission supported the proposal, one, the conservative Kazys Starkevičius, abstained.

“It just came to our attention then [statuto] It didn’t hurt, but it seems to me that such arrogance from the Prime Minister manifested itself here. However, the first case I have been working on at Seimas since 2004 is that the Prime Minister refuses to answer questions. Those very important reasons can be found all the time, but parliament must be a priority, “said K. Starkevičius.

That does not mean that the prospect should be like this.

Although he supported the conclusions, the president of the commission A. Matulas told his colleague in the Seimas: “The draft conclusions were approved, only after the vote would there be a reply: let’s think that this does not mean that in the future what K Starkevičius mentioned. The reason was really serious, but it was not clear to us if [Seimo nariai] You have the right to ask one or more clarifying questions or questions. “



[ad_2]