"In the elections, the Social Democrats won more Seimas seats than any other party and were the only ones who managed to form the majority. This is what I want to stress, as the proposal to form the majority was also made to others,” Grybauskaitė told reporters.
“Therefore, the party's leader will be proposed as candidate for the post of prime minister tomorrow," Grybauskaitė said after meeting with Butkevičius on Monday.
The president said that "from the few possible coalition versions, the Social Democrats opted for cooperation with the Labour Party which is on trial" and "did not keep its publicly-given promise and elected a person suspected of financial fraud to Seimas leadership,” meaning Vytautas Gapšys who was appointed the first parliamentary vice-speaker.
"Only time will show whether the policies of the Social Democrats will be responsible and transparent or whether they will serve as a shelter from the law-enforcement for the party on trial. And only time will show whether the majority cares more about the well-being of the people of Lithuania or procrastination of judicial proceedings and dividing up money for the benefit of criminalized oligarch groups," Grybauskaitė said.
"I with the leader of the Social Democratic party to keep the honor of the party and the state without stumbling, as it was the case during the last few days, and attempt to form a government that could hold responsibility for governing the entire state," the president noted.
She did not answer any questions from journalists.
Meanwhile Butkevičius, who turned 54 on Monday, said he would pass the president's demands to the Labour Party.
"Yes, we spoke about this, as well, and I will definitely forward the president's preferences, although she clearly understands that the issue is extremely tricky," Butkevičius said when asked whether the president demanded that the Labour Party's candidates for ministers were non-affiliated.
The Social Democratic Party's leader said he had so far received two proposals for ministers from the Labour Party – MPs Loreta Graužinienė and Virginija Baltraitienė. According to information available to BNS, Graužinienė is proposed for social security and labor minister, while Baltraitienė is proposed for heading the Ministry of Education and Science.
According to informal reports, MP Kęstutis Daukšys may be nominated for the minister of agriculture. The Labour Party's candidate for culture minister is yet to be decided.
Under the Seimas statute, the president will have an opportunity to present the candidate for prime minister during the next Seimas meeting after the proposition. A decision on the person is to be made within a week after proposition.
Within 15 days after appointment, the prime minister is to present for parliamentary endorsement the cabinet of ministers and its program, previously approved by the president. The program has to be approved within 15 days.
A new government receives a mandate after its program is approved by majority vote of parliamentarians present at a Seimas meeting.
