By Eglė Samoškaitė, LRT.lt.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė has lost confidence in Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė, presidential adviser Deividas Matulionis said Wednesday, signalling that the minister is likely to lose her post.

Ruginienė later confirmed she has decided to sack the defence minister.

“Today I informed the president of my decision to propose the defence minister’s dismissal. I did so verbally, and a written submission will follow shortly,” Ruginienė told reporters at the Presidential Palace.

“Sometimes circumstances force us to make very painful decisions, but I cannot allow such misunderstandings and issues to occur in a field as important as defence. My goal is to ensure the ministry functions smoothly,” she added.

Ruginienė underlined that she herself is initiating Šakalienė’s dismissal without having received a resignation letter from the minister.

Read more: LRT.LT