I feel good. I am constructively looking to the future. I have repeatedly said that I came to the Seimas to work, not to try to get something for myself, to claim something, to have a position, but to have the conditions to work. That was my goal going into the elections. I chose that goal,“ Širinskienė commented for the first time on her decision after the group's meeting.
The MEP said that she felt that lately, Žemaitaitis had been concentrating more on various dramas than on his work, which she has repeatedly called it Santa Barbara. She has publicly criticised the ultimatums issued by the party Chairman regarding the allegedly promised post of Deputy Speaker of the Seimas.
Explaining the reasons for her resignation from the Nemuno Aušra group, the politician pointed not only to the difficult conditions for constructive work but also to the strange choices made by the party leader in the choice of ministers and their teams.
„I have many questions about the environment of various convicted people, with whom I do not want to identify,“ said Širinskienė.
„I don't think it's just a question of situation and communication; it's more of a question of continuity of work. And, as I said, there is a certain environment that I might not have seen before the elections, but I have seen now. I would remind you of Mr Kovėras and the other 'heroes' you have described several times. (...)
When choosing Nemuno Aušra, I asked Mr Žemaitaitis very clearly if he would thoroughly check the people to ensure there wouldn’t be individuals with less than stellar reputations. I was told that they would be checked, but unfortunately, the situation is now different,“ she emphasised.
Could it be that more Nemuno Aušra members will follow her example and leave Žemaitaitis? Širinskienė could not answer this question. We will see.“
Žemaitaitis was not informed
Širinskienė admitted that she had not informed Žemaitaitis about her resignation in advance and did not show up at the meeting of the Nemuno Aušra group, which, according to her, should not have taken place this morning at all.
„At least yesterday, the group's meeting in the group's chalet was cancelled, so...“ – the politician claimed.
„I didn't inform him, but we had a conversation in December, where he understood very well what the course of events could be,“ Širinskienė said about her last meeting with Žemaitaitis.
She also said she had briefly chatted with him in the Seimas meeting room.
„I think we are not angry because we just had a very nice conversation in the Chamber,“ Širinskienė said when asked if Žemaitaitis had apologised to her even once.
The Democrats' group increased to 14 members after Širinskienė's accession, while the Nemuno Aušra group decreased to 19.
Širinskienė said that she would consider joining the Democrats as well and that she would leave Nemuno Aušra soon.
She will also resign from the post of Deputy Speaker of the Seimas, to which the Dawn Breakers group nominated her.
„I have repeatedly said that I do not cling to any post; it is not the posts that work, but the members of the Seimas, their hands and heads. I will do what I think should be done in a civilised society – I will simply hand in my resignation to the Speaker of the Seimas,“ said Širinskienė.
She currently holds one of the two positions of Vice-Chair of the Seimas delegated to Nemuno Aušra.
Even before the 2024 Seimas elections, the Democrats invited Širinskienė to join their ranks. Then she chose Nemuno Aušra. When asked whether this was a wrong decision, she admitted that in the past, she did not know all the circumstances that could have changed her choices.
„Whether it was a mistake or not—looking back into the past would probably be necessary,“ the parliamentarian stated.
„Everything happens in life, and people admit that they were wrong. I think it is honourable to admit that there are some things I could not see and evaluate,“ she added.
