RIGA - Nothing will change in Lithuania with the resignation of Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas in regards to the area of security and defense, Maris Andzans, associate professor at Riga Stradins University (RSU) and director of the Center for Geopolitical Studies, told LETA.
He believes that no major changes are foreseeable in the country's attitude towards Russia and Belarus and the war in Ukraine. "Maybe there will be some changes on some issues, but badically nothing will change," Andzans said.
He stressed that public opinion also plays an important role in this issue, and in Lithuania people's views on the Russian-led war are clear. President Gitanas Nauseda has also made his views clear.
Andzans thinks that a new government will probably be formed by early autumn. There are also no events expected in the near future that would force to rush the formation of a new government, the expert added.
The question is what will be the composition of the next coalition and whether it will be possible for the current political force leading the government to retain the post of prime minister. If the Social Democratic Party continues to lead the government, then some ministers could also change, Andzans expects.
He also suggests that the populist party Dawn of Nemunas could be excluded from the coalition. "But all this is just speculation at the moment," Andzans said.
The AFP news agency reports that Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas resigned on Thursday amid an ongoing investigation into potential financial crimes by firms linked to him.
"I informed the president about an hour ago that I took the decision to resign from my duties as the prime minister," Paluckas said in a statement.
He added that he was also leaving his post as the head of the Social Democratic party.
"Despite my decision to leave my current duties, I will continue to defend my honor and dignity and I'm waiting for the conclusions of the investigations, which I'm sure will separate the facts from insinuations," he said.
Earlier Thursday, local media reported that Lithuania's Financial Crimes Investigation Service (FNTT) searched the offices of Dankora, a company belonging to Paluckas's sister-in-law.
The firm used EU funds to buy battery systems from Garnis, a company partly owned by Paluckas.
Investigative reporters in Lithuania first revealed in May that the same company partly owned by Paluckas received a subsidized state loan when he was already head of government.
The country's authorities then launched a probe, which is ongoing.
Journalists later revealed more cases of alleged corruption, some of which are now also under investigation.
Paluckas was previously convicted of abuse of office while serving as the director of the Vilnius City municipal administration. He was fined.
Paluckas has been prime minister since last year, when the Social Democrats won the October election and entered into a ruling coalition with the populist Nemunas Dawn party and the center-left "For Lithuania".
The head of "For Lithuania", former prime minister Saulius Skvernelis, threatened on Wednesday to pull out of the coalition if Paluckas stayed on.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda had given Paluckas on July 24 two weeks to respond to the corruption allegations or quit.
Nauseda said the Social Democrats will now hold talks on forming a new cabinet but said he hoped the existing ministers would remain in their posts.
The cabinet will still need to submit a formal resignation as per the constitution, with the new government to be confirmed by the president.
A new prime minister must be appointed within 60 days, according to the constitution. During that time a current minister can be temporarily appointed to head the government.
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