Šimonytė has received no negative comments from von der Leyen on Landsbergi's possible candidacy: the name was positively received

„The candidates have been discussed for quite some time. The nominations have been discussed, and I have discussed it with the President of the Commission myself because you still need to get a sense of whether there is some kind of negativity on the part of the receiving side or whether there is some kind of remark, or perhaps some kind of prejudice. I can say that there were none; the name was received positively“, Šimonytė told Žinių Radijas on Thursday.

„Naturally, because I think that Gabrielius Landsbergis has earned quite a solid reputation in the international arena, his opinion is listened to, the international media widely interview him, and he is regarded as an expert on various geopolitical phenomena,“ she said, adding that Landsbergis was her first choice for the EC.

Landsbergis told Elta that the politician knew that his name had been presented to the EC President. The Conservative said that Ms von der Leyen had given him a favourable assessment of his chances of running for the EC.

However, a couple of weeks ago, Landsbergis said he had received information that President Nausėda would not support his candidacy. He suggested that this might have been influenced by previous conflicts with the Presidency, such as the so-called Phantom of the Opera scandal. Therefore, the President of the Conservative Party urged the Prime Minister to look for another candidate.

Andrius Kubilius, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), has been proposed. Last Thursday, President Nausėda signed a decree submitted by the Government approving the former Prime Minister's candidacy for the post of European Commissioner.

Šimonytė says that the EC President also welcomed the name of Mr Kubilius.

„It is tough to react negatively to the candidacy of Andrius Kubilius, and it is tough to have any criticism of the candidacy in general, given that (...) the European elections were won by the European People's Party, led by Ursula von der Leyen, and in Lithuania also by the Homeland Union, led by Andrius Kubilius,“ said Šimonytė.

„The experience of Andrius Kubilius (...) is very, very difficult to argue with. I think it will be beneficial for the President of the Commission to have people with a solid reputation and extensive experience and who can help her do the great things that she identified in her speech in the European Parliament,“ the Prime Minister summarised.

At next week's extraordinary session of the Seimas, which will be convened next week, Parliamentarians are expected to decide on the candidacy of Mr Kubilius for the EC.