Kreivys bucks pressure to resign

VILNIUS - Lithuanian Economy Minister Dainius Kreivys has shrugged off calls from President Dalia Grybauskaite to resign from his post, saying that he will continue to work with the support of the prime minister.

Kreivys has recently been plagued by allegations of a conflict of interest after he signed over 6 million litas in EU funding to a company partially owned by his mother.

"I’m not holding onto my job with my fingernails, but I’m ready to continue working. The issue of ownership of the shares I previously held will be resolved in a way that will leave no doubt to anyone,” Kreivys said.

The comments came just hours after the president's spokesman, Linas Balsys, said the minister should step down.

"The president believes that Kreivys should make a political decision and resign. He has politically discredited himself and politically discredits the whole government and Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius,” Balsys told journalists.

The president had previously said that she "doesn't trust" the minister and criticized the "interrelationship between business and politics".

Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius has said after numerous meetings with Kreivys that he supports the minister and believes he should continue to work despite the growing scandal.