Saulius Skvernelis, leader of the Democrats “For Lithuania,” is stepping down as Speaker of the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, amid a reshuffle of the ruling coalition.

On Monday, he submitted his resignation letter to the Office of the Seimas.

“I am asking the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania to grant my request and dismiss me from the position of Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania,” the letter states.

According to the registered resolution, Social Democrat Juozas Olekas, the First Deputy Speaker, will temporarily lead the parliament until a new Speaker is elected.

The resolution on Skvernelis’ dismissal is expected to be adopted by the Seimas on September 10, at the start of its autumn session.

A new ruling majority was formed in August after the resignation of Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas. The bloc includes the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, the Nemunas Dawn party, the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union, and the Christian Families Alliance group in the Seimas. The Democrats withdrew after declaring they could no longer cooperate with Nemunas Dawn.

Skvernelis became Speaker of the Seimas in mid-November when the newly elected parliament began its work.

Source: BNS

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