"I see this as an attempt to politicize law-enforcement institutions. We have gone through this 10-15 years ago, I would not want to see Lithuania's society and state returning to the old times when heads of law-enforcement institutions were directly dependent upon politicians," the president told BNS on Monday.
A few weeks ago, the parliament approved for discussion a draft Law on Police Operations, which changes the scheme of operations of police officers and appointment of the police commissioner general, also expanding the rights of police officers.
Up until now, the police commissioner general was appointed and dismissed by the president upon a proposal from the interior minister and the government. According to the new version, the chief commissioner would be proposed by interior minister for a five-year term and appointed and sacked by the government, scrapping the commissioner's responsibility to the president.
In the end of June, the Seimas board set up a task force for drafting constitutional amendments in connection to subordination of the prosecution system by 15 September.
Stasys Šedbaras, chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, has hinted that handover of prosecution to the executive administration could also be considered.
Under current laws, the prosecutor general is proposed by the parliament and appointed and dismissed by the president.
2012 07 09
Lithuanian president critical of proposed changes to appointment scheme of chief prosecutor and chief police commissioner
Initiatives discussed at Lithuania's parliament to revise the scheme of appointing prosecutor general and police commissioner general are attempts to politicize law-enforcement institutions, says President Dalia Grybauskaitė.
Office of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Lithuania / Andriaus Ufarto/BFL nuotr.
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