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Dirkstys expresses discontent after alleged meeting with Nausėda; Presidential Palace response surprises

Dirkstys expresses discontent after alleged meeting with Nausėda; Presidential Palace response surprises

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Dominykas Dirkstys claimed he met President Gitanas Nausėda near a hotel in Klaipėda and was refused a photo, stating he would be more accessible as president.
  • The Presidential Palace responded that Nausėda did not meet or interact with Dirkstys during his visit to Klaipėda.
  • Dirkstys made his claims on Instagram, contrasting his imagined presidency with the alleged behavior of the current president.

Dominykas Dirkstys has publicly criticized President Gitanas Nausėda, claiming the president refused to take a photo with him during an encounter near the "Victoria Hotel" in Klaipėda. Dirkstys recounted the alleged incident on Instagram, stating that when he asked for a photo, Nausėda replied he did not have time and remained in his car.

I met Nausėda near the "Victoria Hotel." I said, can we have a photo? He replied that he didn't have time. Then he sat in a stationary car for another minute. That's why he doesn't have an aura. When I am president, I will interact with people, take photos, give money in the city, I will build my aura.

— Dominykas DirkstysDirkstys described his alleged encounter with the president on Instagram.

Dirkstys contrasted this alleged behavior with his own imagined approach to the presidency. "When I am president, I will interact with people, take photos, give money in the city, I will build my aura," he stated on the social media platform, implying Nausėda lacks public accessibility and charisma.

However, the Presidential Palace issued a swift and surprising response, denying that President Nausėda met or interacted with Dirkstys. "I can confirm that the President was in Klaipėda on Thursday, this was publicly announced and on that day's agenda. The President did not meet with the person you mentioned and did not communicate with them," said Tomas Beržinskas, advisor to the LR President.

I can confirm that the President was in Klaipėda on Thursday, this was publicly announced and that day's agenda. The President did not meet with the person you mentioned and did not communicate with them.

— Tomas BeržinskasA Presidential Palace advisor denied Dirkstys's claims.

The palace added that they were not informed about who Dirkstys might have interacted with or whether he requested photos from anyone else. The statement directly contradicts Dirkstys's account of the encounter.

With whom your mentioned person communicated, whose photos he asked for or not – we are not informed.

— Tomas BeržinskasThe advisor stated the palace had no information about Dirkstys's interactions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.