However, leader of the Liberal and Center Union Algis Čaplikas said following a meeting of coalition partners on Wednesday that all candidates had been proposed.
"According to the existing agreement, the liberal centrists have the preferential right to nominate a candidate. But they can also nominate, just like I did once, a candidate from non-partisan representatives. I would like to remind that at least three non-partisan members are in the Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats' ministerial quota. To my mind, we'll come to a common agreement in any case," Kubilius told journalists.
The prime minister noted that the coalition agreement might be changed. In his words, key ruling coalition priorities were discussed during the meeting.
"We discussed key tasks the parliament and government still have to do. Those key tasks are related to strategic energy projects. The important thing is that coalition partners see common goals and common actions we have to do. Besides, we also discussed the coalition's internal matters, and the possibility, I would say, to amend the agreement for it to define the most important tasks very clearly. We also discussed ways to solve issues related to the vacant ministerial position," the prime minister said.
Kubilius underlined that strategic projects are more important than "one or another position." Asked when he planned to propose a new candidate for the position of minister of interior affairs to the president, Kubilius said: "We'll see when we reach an agreement."
On the other hand, Čaplikas said after the meeting that all candidates for the position had already been nominated, and the coalition agreement was in force.
"The agreement is still in force, and based on it, we have the right to nominate a candidate, and that is what we have done, and we are awaiting the prime minister's decision," the liberal centrist leader said, adding that the prime minister would name the candidate after proposing to President Dalia Grybauskaitė.
The position of minister of interior affairs became vacant following resignation of liberal centrist Raimundas Palaitis, criticized by the conservatives for having sacked two top officials of the Financial Crime Investigation Service.
