Political situation in Lithuania

Prime Minister resigns after criticized deals

Gintautas Paluckas is resigning as Lithuania's Prime Minister and party leader of the Social Democrats, Lithuanian media report.

The background is a journalistic investigation that revealed that Paluckas' company was responsible for several suspicious payment and loan schemes. This is now being investigated and there has been great political pressure.

Paluckas says he has done nothing wrong, but believes that the situation is hampering the government's work and affecting his family.

"When I see how the attacks continue and how the limits are being crossed by attacking my wife and family, I realize that I must stop this as soon as possible - I cannot let people close to me pay the price," he says in a statement.

Criticism: The president was like a protective mother

Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas should have resigned earlier, given the demands for transparency that citizens should be able to place on their elected officials. This is what political scientist Ignas Kalpokas tells the Lithuanian news site Lrytas.

He did not resign when the journalistic investigation revealed his questionable business dealings, but only when the pressure became unbearable, he continues.

The opposition and the speaker share the same criticism, writes Delfi. Precious time has been lost. Criticism is also directed at President Gitanas Nauseda, who did not put more pressure on the prime minister and instead showed evidence of an “emotional relationship” like a “mother”, according to leading opposition politicians.

The Social Democrats and the president reject the criticism.

– I gave him time to think like a human being first, says the president.