The decision was made at a Thursday meeting of the political group, its spokeswoman Jūratė Mockuvienė confirmed to BNS.
"It was the political group's position on the minister's scandalous situation after the flight on a plane booked by a private company when the ministry has to make a decision on a specific contract with the company. It shows that there might be non-transparent relations. The situation is fairly clear and we see no point in waiting for a decision of the Chief Official Ethics Commission," HU-LCD member Jurgis Razma told BNS.
Meanwhile Eligijus Masiulis, leader of the Liberal Movement, believes the minister should step down. If not, the Liberal Movement would back the interpellation.
"First of all, we have to wait until the minister herself evaluates her behavior. It would be the best case if the minister herself resign after apologizing to the public. If that doesn't happen, I believe, we should wait for Monday and the president and prime minister's positions as the prime minister's has the final say here. If Vesaite continues serving as economy minister, the opposition will have no other way but to demand the minister's responsibility by means of interpellation," Masiulis told journalists.
At least 29 members of the Seimas have to sign an interpellation against a minister, demanding to explain motives for a decision.
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 reply of the minister is recognized as inadequate and non-confidence in minister is declared in a draft resolution of the Seimas, the draft may be adopted by a majority vote.
Vėsaitė came under criticism after her trip to Kazakhstan on a plane booked by a private company.
Coalition partners' reaction
Viktor Uspaskich, former leader of Lithuania's Labor Party which is a member of the ruling coalition, proposes to Minister of Economy Vėsaitė to resign as a result of a potential conflict of interest.
"In this case, I would suggest thinking very quickly and making a fair decision and not putting the whole coalition into an unpleasant situation. In this case, I totally agree with the president's opinion. Unfortunately, it happens in politics so and you need to be modern and if you get into trouble, just resign," Uspaskich told journalists at the Seimas on Thursday.
MEP Rolandas Paksas, leader of the ruling Order and Justice party, also believes that Vėsaitė should resign, provided that information in media reports is proven accurate.
"I am not that quick at making decisions without hearing out both sides. I would really want to listen and hear the minister's arguments on who, why, how, etc. Of course, if what has been written by the press in recent days is true, then, with no doubt, it does nothing good for the minister, and she should not behave like that. In any case, before we make one or the other decision, I would like to hear the minister's arguments," Paksas told BNS on Thursday.
Asked whether Vėsaitė should resign, if media reports are confirmed, Paksas said: "I think it would be a good step."
