„I wouldn't be surprised because let's remember the whole story of my arrival. There was also a difference of opinion between the Prime Minister and the President. The chessboard of politics is always wider – I don't see it all. There are no impossible things in politics“, Dulkys told Žinių Radijas on Thursday.
„If, for some reason, the Prime Minister sees the need to put together a team one way or another, no problem,“ he added.
Asked whether he had already spoken to the Head of Government, Ingrida Šimonytė, about his future as a Minister, Dulkys said there had been no concrete talks yet.
„This is an internal team matter, but not specifically about this situation, the future of my work or any of these nuances. It seems to me that everyone in the public sees the position of the Prime Minister“, the Minister said.
„We are a team. I have known the Prime Minister for a long time; the Prime Minister has known me for a long time, and she knows my weaknesses. I know what I am doing wrong“, Dulkys said.
Rejects criticism of deputy ministers: 'I don't reproach the Presidency for not having a health adviser'
Minister Dulkys also reacted to the President's Office's criticism of the Ministry of Health's political team—currently, there are only two vice ministers in the Ministry of Health (SAM). According to the politician, the number of managements should not be exaggerated because, Dulkys continued, the most important thing is people's competence.
„I am happy that someone cares about me. I don't want to sound ironic, but in politics, we still have to understand that there are jobs of political trust. I see this constant attempt to put some deputy ministers in my way or to bring up this topic more as an attempt to influence our team,“ said Dulkys.
„Maybe someone is unhappy that someone is not working in the Ministry of Health“, he said.
However, the Head of the Ministry of Health stressed that deputy ministers are officials of polite Ministers who make decisions about the Minister's employment and activities.
„It is his political will what size of the team he wants to have, how many advisers he wants (to have – ELTA)“, the politician explained.
„It would be better to have fewer deputy ministers or advisers, but they will be smarter than the Minister himself. It seems that the Ministry of Health should not be told these things at this point. After all, I am not blaming the Presidency for not having a health advisor. However, it would be essential and certainly improve our dialogue,“ Dulkys retorted to the President.
ELTA recalls that the country's leader, Gitanas Nausėda, hinted that he has specific names of ministers who, in his opinion, could be replaced after the Government returns to power. The Presidency has made it clear that the most questionable is the work of Agriculture Minister Kęstutis Navickas.
At the beginning of July, Irena Segalovičienė, the Chief Adviser to the Head of State, also commented on Mr Dulkys. She suggested that if he were to step down as Head of the Ministry, there would be leaders in the health system who could take over the position.
According to the law, the Government resumes its mandate after the president-elect has taken the oath of office. The Prime Minister submits a written declaration to the Head of State. The President, in turn, entrusts the Prime Minister with the duties of the office until a new Seimas is given a new mandate and a new Cabinet is formed.
