"I really wish the new Cabinet would switch as soon as possible from electoral populist rhetoric to awareness of reality, especially while talking and solving issues related to state finances. I would like to stress the words "while talking" as a state's financial situation depends very much not only on its decisions that increase or reduce revenues, increasing or reducing some expenditure, but equally on what is said," Kubilius told journalists following the sitting of his Cabinet.
In his words, talking determines how international markets view a state.
"And that is one of the most important things that can positively or negatively affect our situation. Contining populism and even talking does damage to Lithuania and can continue doing damage more and more," the acting prime minister said.
Among key tasks for the incoming Cabinet, Kubilius sees continuity of energy projects. In his words, sometimes unpopular decisions have to be made to ensure energy independence. Decisions, he said, which seemed unpopular at the time, would deliver much benefit for Lithuania in the long run, "in terms of economic benefit for every consumer, and in terms of geopolitical security."
Kubilius also wished the new government to have an ambitious vision, and called his own Cabinet's work over the last four years great but also acknowledged mistakes.
"There's a mixture of feelings in my heart. I look back on those four years as a period during which we have accomplished so much work I really can call great. Perhaps we have not always managed to explain all things properly, have not managed to make decisions without mistakes but we definitely had a clear ambition to not only help Lithuania deal with the crisis but also move forward to become a modern state that is not afraid of global competitiveness. I believe we have truly accomplished a lot," Kubilius said.
Lithuania's new center-left Cabinet of Algirdas Butkevičius will receive powers on Thursday, if the Seimas approves its program.
