Usackas pulls out of presidential race

VILNIUS- Lithuanian Foreign Minister Vygaudas Usackas has officially said he will not run for president. After having been named as a potential candidate, Usackas said he had thought it over and decided to withdraw his name.

"I think I could best apply my experience continuing my current line of activity", the minister told delfi.lt news portal.

Friends, acquaintances and citizens had encouraged him to run for president and offered their support, said Usackas.

"However, I think that the experience I accumulated over the almost 20 years of diplomatic service in Brussels, Washington D.C. and London will be most useful during this economic downfall and political unpredictability serving the duty I have been appointed to serve", the minister said.

Usackas did not rule out the possibility of running for the presidential post in the future, saying that he would talk about that when the time comes.

 
The Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrat Party, who nominated Usackas for his post as Foreign Minister,  has more potential candidates for president to choose from. Party Chair Andrius Kubilius has said he will back European Commissioner Dalia Grybauskaite's candidacy in the event that she plans to run. The Christian half of the party has proposed to back its Honorary Chairman, Member of European Parliament Vytautas Landsbergis. MEP Laima Andrikiene has also mentioned plans to run in the elections.

The first round of Lithuania's presidential elections will be held on May 17, with the second one to be held simultaneously with the elections for European Parliament (EP) on June 7.