„Our party should give ethics a high priority, should consider political and ethical issues as a priority, rather than worrying about possible posts and how to get them,“ Landsbergis told the Conservatives gathered at the party's council on Sunday.
„All our political crises stem from our wickedness. For some reason, those dead ends are more attractive. We are happy with them, and more than once. That is why, in addition to all the transformations mentioned by the President, an ethical transformation is desperately needed,“ he said.
He referred to the cheques scandal and the former Monica Navickienės's flight to Dubai as „dead-ends.“
„Just a year ago, the crisis of 'self-help for politicians' broke out here. Unfortunately, the old Soviet customs of 'drawing' from the common collective farm are already coming to the fore,“ he said.
„A lesson and advice to Monika Navickienė and everyone – don't make friends with scammers and don't take advantage of them. And where is the head of your family, father Navickas, who would normally stand next to his stumbling wife and say: „I am the one who paid for her and the children's tickets and hotels. Get away from my Monika!“ Unfortunately, the standards are not the same“, he commented.
Landsbergis mentioned that in the situation of Navickienė, he felt sorry for both the children of the former minister and her colleagues, including Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė. In his speech, the Chairman of the Supreme Council-Restorative Seimas emphasised several times the Prime Minister's moral integrity.
„I feel sorry for the children (Navickienė – ELTA), and I feel sorry for Ingrida who was hurt“, he said.
Gabrielius Landsbergis: This is not the first time he has criticised the party
Reacting to the speech of the Honorary Chairman, the current leader of the party, Gabrielius Landsbergis, assured that this was not the first time Landsbergis had criticised Concervatives.
„It is not the first time, I would say, that he (Landsbergis – ELTA) criticises. I think this is a stage where the professor needs a memory shake. As far as I remember, I saw him in the European Parliament back then, and he was no stranger to using parliamentary funds“, Landsbergis told journalists after the Council meeting.
When asked if he had also heard criticism of himself, the party chairman said he had not, except as a community member.
„As a member of the community, probably. It's hard to say something particular. Anyway, as a person, he (Vytautas Landsbergis) is distant from the daily work of the community; maybe from the headlines, he gives a certain impression,“ Landsbergis said.
„I didn't hear anything very shocking“, he stressed.
ELTA recalls that Social Security and Labour Minister Monika Navickienė decided to leave her post amid the ongoing scandal over her and her husband Mindaugas Navickas' links with the company Foxpay, its owner Ieva Trinkūnaite and her businesswoman's partner Vilhelmas Germanas, who has been jailed for financial crimes.
On Thursday, President Gitanas Nausėda signed a decree dismissing Navickienė. The politician has recently headed the Ministry of Social Security and Labour (SADM) and served as interim Minister of Education.
The decree entrusted Finance Minister Gintarė Skaiste with the temporary functions of Minister of Social Security and Labour and Minister of Education, Science and Sport until new ministers are appointed to these posts.
