Sinkevičius: Removing Commission Head Not Political Revenge

Mindaugas Sinkevičius, leader of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), asserted that the decision to remove Laura Asadauskaitė-Zadneprovskienė from her leadership position in the Seimas Youth and Sports Affairs Commission was not an act of political revenge.

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There was such a proposal from the presidium (LSDP). Perhaps the formulations are not heard correctly and there were members of the Seimas who interpret them incorrectly. The presidium has powers provided for in the statute. To discuss – does not mean to decide. We can discuss a lot, but not necessarily decide, because the party does not have an imperative to impose some will on the Seimas, because changes will be carried out in the Seimas

Sinkevičius explained that the changes were prompted by criticisms regarding the commission's slow pace and the stagnation of sports-related legislation. He indicated that the LSDP presidium had discussed the matter and proposed these changes, emphasizing that the party does not impose its will on the Seimas, where final decisions are made.

He further elaborated that the LSDP presidium supported the proposed changes almost unanimously, with 95% of members voting in favor. Sinkevičius mentioned that the Ministry of Education, Science, and Sport had raised concerns about projects getting stuck in the commission, hindering progress and suggesting a need for new leadership if existing leaders impede the ministry's work.

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95% of the presidium members voted for changes in the relevant commission

When questioned about the potential link to the National Sports Council draft law, to which Asadauskaitė-Zadneprovskienė had publicly objected, Sinkevičius acknowledged that the changes were related to the sports sector. Reports indicate that Algimantas Radvila is expected to replace Asadauskaitė-Zadneprovskienė as commission chair.

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There were remarks about the commission's work from the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, that some projects that reached the Seimas are stuck in the commission, that there is no progress forward or backward. Initiative is needed, and if necessary, to change leaders who are hindering the work done by the ministry

Asadauskaitė-Zadneprovskienė stated she was unaware of the decision to replace her until she learned about it from the media, describing the process as unexpectedly swift. The changes follow a reshuffling of the ruling coalition and government, affecting leadership in various Seimas committees and commissions previously headed by representatives of the "Nemuno aušros" faction. Some social democrat appointees are also expected to be replaced.

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No, it was completely unexpected for me. About the fact that yesterday the presidium voted to change me in the position of commission chairperson and to propose A. Radvila instead of me, I knew nothing. I only found out about it today from the media. I also learned that a vote was organized in the commission on an urgent basis, and now, probably, this decision will be approved in the Seimas. Everything is happening very quickly, so it was really unexpected for me