As the Labour Party decided to recall Dainius Pavalkis, their delegated minister of science and education, another member of the party, the current Deputy Speaker of the Seimas Vydas Gedvilas was proposed to assume the vacant post, however, President Grybauskaite on Thursday decided not to appoint Gedvilas as submitted by the prime minister and expressed her doubts about the candidate's reputation.
Commenting on the current friction between the president and the Government, Sinkevicius says that before submitting the minister's candidacy the prime minister must assess the candidate's qualifications and reputation, also, secure the support of the Seimas majority and the president.
"In this case, nonetheless, there are certain Constitutional requirements. The candidate must be competent and of impeccable reputation and if there are any doubts that the candidacy is perhaps not the most appropriate, then of course the president of the republic has the right to ask for another candidate. Under the Constitution, the president is not just a notary who confirms the nomination as submitted by the prime minister,".
According to him, Article 84 of the Constitution gives certain responsibilities to the current President Grybauskaite.
"By appointing a minister, the president assume certain moral and political responsibility and the president should make sure that the candidate is qualified, competent and of impeccable reputation. If President Grybauskaite has any information that the candidate's reputation is poor or has some other information which potentially could not allow the person assume the proposed post, the president has the right to ask for another candidate. The principle of responsible governing is binding both on the prime minister whose job is to choose a candidate and the president of the republic. Both sides must act in a very responsible manner," Sinkevicius said.
