Lithuania: PM's wife's appointment questioned; Border Guard chief dismissed

Questions are swirling around Aistė Sinkevičienė, the wife of Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius, following reports that she secured a leading role in the Kaunas district municipality's Public and International Relations Department without a public competition. Further scrutiny surrounds her concurrent work at 'Raudondvario dvaras,' an institution subordinate to the municipality, with the deputy director reportedly unaware of her colleague's position.

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We are looking at who specifically made the decisions, whether everything proceeded according to the letter of the law.

Opposition conservatives have indicated they may refer the matter to the Chief Official Ethics Commission. Parliamentarian Mindaugas Lingė stated that while adherence to the law must be examined, the situation reflects a typical modus operandi of the Social Democratic Party. He emphasized that even if all procedures were followed, a moral aspect remains. Government representative Agnė Širinskienė also suggested that those who hired Sinkevičienė and she herself should provide explanations.

The Kaunas district municipality stated that Sinkevičienė was transferred to the department head position in accordance with legal provisions, citing her performance as exceeding expectations. The decision was formalized by an administrative director's order on July 26, 2024. Sinkevičienė herself asserted that information about her workplaces and positions was not concealed and is included in her private interests declaration. The Prime Minister commented on Facebook, expressing pride in his wife's professional achievements and noting her career began before their marriage.

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The situation should be explained by the individuals who hired A. Sinkevičienė, and by herself.

Separately, the government approved the dismissal of Rustamas Liubajevas from his post as head of the State Border Guard Service, following a proposal from the Minister of the Interior. The exact interim leadership for the service remains unclear. In international affairs, the former Ukrainian Defense Minister urged for elections in the country, a new trial against Meta commenced in California, and the U.S. imposed sanctions on the head of the International Criminal Court.

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I am proud that my wife is a valued specialist in her field, constantly improving her professional qualifications.