Such a interpellation submission procedure is provided for by the Statute of the Seimas, according to the Lithuanian parliament's Public Relations Unit.
According to the law, upon receipt of an interpellation, a Cabinet member must submit a written response to the Seimas speaker within two weeks. In the event that the minister's explanations are deemed inadequate by parliament, MPs can hold a non-confidence vote. A vote of over one half of MPs can remove the minister from the post.
The interpellation was initiated by the opposition Liberal Movements earlier this week. It was later signed by 31 MPs, including Andriukaitis himself.
The Liberals are asking the minister to explain why funding for healthcare institutions has been cut by 11 percent, despite the fact that the budget of the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund is 135.8 million litas (over EUR 39 million) bigger than last year.
In Lithuania, at least 29 members of the Seimas have to sign an interpellation against a minister, demanding to explain motives for a decision.
