Jacuzzi: No need to be intimidated by curfew

Delphi In the program “Conversation with Daiva Žeimyte-Biliene”, A. Kubilius also evaluated the approval procedure of the ministers, listed the mistakes made by President Gitanas Nausėda.

What to do to manage a coronavirus pandemic?

The outgoing government tightened the quarantine introduced in the country until the end of this year. However, according to the designated prime minister, this is not enough. Kubilius said the outgoing government had missed an opportunity to control the second wave of the coronavirus.

“My first decision would be to convene a meeting of experts. (…) The truth is that the moment was lost, when it was possible to have easier measures to handle the pandemic. Now that wave has flooded Lithuania and there are no solutions very simple ”, the politician valued.

He recognized that it was necessary to strengthen the quarantine. The interlocutor urged not to be afraid of the spectacle and the introduction of the curfew, which has been debated for a long time.

“It seems that the quarantine will have to be significantly tightened. At least in a similar way, this was done in Belgium a few months ago. There is no need to be afraid, (…) intimidated by the same curfew. Perhaps it will be called differently in others. countries, but in Brussels itself it has been in effect for several months, it is forbidden to have fun at night, it is not possible ”, said A. Kubilius.

Delfi recalls that the curfew in Lithuania can only be declared after the introduction of a state of emergency. And the Seimas can do it.

As another possible option for managing the pandemic, a representative of the National Union presented the strategy followed by Slovakia.

“There are examples in Slovakia itself where the entire population was surveyed in one weekend, in two days. Doctors and experts learned of the real situation across the country and were able to continue to handle the whole situation more effectively, “he said.

A. Kubilius said on the show that the situation is already such that effective, even painful solutions are needed.

“And you shouldn’t avoid choosing solutions that are effective despite the approach of Christmas. But we have already “celebrated” with our desire to celebrate during the elections, in hallways full of basketball, – assured A. Kubilius in the show “Conversation with Daiva Žeimyte-Biliene”.

I would not want to be in Šimonytė’s place

A. Kubilius is most often remembered for his duties as prime minister during the crisis period of 2008-2012. The beginning of I. Šimonytė’s work will not be easy either.

When asked on the show if he would like to be in the prime minister’s place, A. Kubilius said he was satisfied with where he is now.

“No thanks, I like where I am now, I don’t really dream about such things. I kept joking that my experience as prime minister had that nuance. I am glad that I. Šimonytė is in my place”, – said A. Kubilius on the show.

‘I. Šimonyte bears a heavy load. But I think Lithuania is lucky, I repeat that we have a government under his leadership at such a difficult time, ”said the politician.

The selection process for ministerial candidates in the Presidency was also criticized. It was carried out on two levels: first, the candidates met with G. Nausėda’s advisers and only then with the president himself.

A. Kubilius boldly declared on the show that I. Šimonytė had agreed to replace two ministerial candidates who did not like the head of the country and saved the country from a major crisis.

“It seems to me that the president has mistakenly succumbed to the public opinion that after the Seimas elections, the president must necessarily reject at least a couple of candidates. This, unfortunately, President G. Nausėda started this path quite easily. After that, he apparently faced several problems that led to such a crisis situation, when it was not easy for the president to discover which candidates to exclude, he chose two victims without very clear arguments, “said A. Kubilius.

Delfi recalls that G. Nausėda commissioned Prime Minister I. Šimonyte to look for two new candidates: for the heads of the Ministries of Transport and Agriculture. Kasparas Adomaitis, delegate candidate of the Freedom Party, and Dalia Miniataitė, nominated by the National Union, did not pass the presidential filter to the Transport Ministers.

Šimonytė saved President Nausėda

According to the politician, I. Šimonytė and the president were rescued from the crisis situation.

‘I. Šimonytė acted in this place on behalf of the state, saving Lithuania and the president herself from the crisis. Here is the problem of Lithuania: Presidents are not compared to European leaders, but to former Lithuanian presidents. And he falls into the completely wrong notion of how presidents should behave “, – A. Kubilius presented his opinion on the program.

Explaining his statements, the interlocutor of the show stressed that in many EU countries the Constitutions stipulate the duty of the President to approve the composition of the Government presented by the Prime Minister.

“But in no EU country is it possible for the president to scrutinize the candidates proposed by the prime minister to find ways to reject several. And we have to answer a simple question: why are presidents of other EU countries do they behave differently than in Lithuania? ”The question was posed by a politician.

Trying to answer the question himself, A. Kubilius asserted that other countries simply have a longer democratic tradition and know from experience how presidents can cause such crises.

“And what did you save from? I can only remind you that if the Prime Minister had disagreed with the President’s unsubstantiated criticism and demanded the removal of two candidates, the President would not have signed the list on the last day, thus causing a political or constitutional crisis.

And then I. Šimonytė should have said that he could not form a cabinet, which was approved by the president. The president should have searched for a new prime ministerial candidate and perhaps even formed a new coalition. And already on December 23, according to the resolution adopted in August of this year, the powers of the Government of S. Skvernelis would have simply expired ”, A. Kubilius mentioned one of the possible scenarios.

Then, according to the interlocutor, a situation would have arisen in which the country would have been left without the Government.

“In addition to the pandemic and the economic crisis, Lithuania has had the opportunity to find itself in a very deep crisis, which would have arisen only because of the president’s misunderstanding of his powers.”

A. Kubilius said that I. Šimonytė decided not to argue with the president and accepted the higher policy standard.

“And in this way he helped Lithuania and the president out of the crisis, which could have been much deeper,” commented A. Kubilius.

Predict signs of recovery

The MEP A. Kubilius positively evaluated the program presented by the Government of I. Šimonytė. According to him, this will differ from previous governments in openness and consultation.

“(Program, aut. P.) It allows us to hope that the lives of all of us, not only in the next four years, but also in a good decade, will have a clear direction for what I would call European life,” said A Kubilius.

The interviewee said that he was confident in I. Šimonytė’s abilities and in the promises listed in the Government’s program, as well as in teacher pay increases.

“I believe in the wisdom of I. Šimonytė, I did not really count. (…) Knowing the capacity of I. Šimonytė not only to count, but also honesty and decency, I believe that funds will be sought and found for this commitment,” he said. former prime minister A. Kubilius on the target set to increase teachers’ salaries.

The interlocutor of the program said that he hoped that the pandemic would not continue during the four years of government rule.

“The situation is not easy, leaving is not easy either. I do not want to blame the previous government, but it is already true that the second wave of the pandemic is worse managed than in the same slow and bureaucratic Belgium. (…) But in budgetary matters, I see those holes that I have already mentioned before the elections.

The deficit is unlikely to be reduced as boldly as the outgoing government has painted. (…) I believe that we will see signs of recovery, a strengthened economy and we will have the opportunity to seek funds for those expenses that are now identified as priorities ”, said A. Kubilius in the program“ Conversation with Daiva Žeimyte-Biliene ”.

The politician was pleased that the EU is behaving very differently from this crisis in 2008-2012.

“It just came to our notice then. And what we will see is what the European and world economy will be like when the second wave ends. We can clearly see that even the best experts are not doing very well in forecasting so far. (…) Everything. you must be prepared. I think Lithuania is lucky that I. Šimonytė is taking the lead in Lithuania under such circumstances, “said the politician on the program.