Economics, EU – Baltic States, Lithuania

Kazimira Prunskiene.

"The troubles burdening the European Union were not unexpected, since experts had forecasted the coming of the hard times far earlier, yet there were no efficient measures taken to prevent or at least to mitigate the crisis. No reserves for financial assistance were formed, no countries were informed of how to prepare for the crisis, what crisis management measures should be taken," Prunskiene said.

According to the politician, it is obvious that Dalia Grybauskaite, delegated by Lithuanian to the European Commission, has not accomplished her mission as well. "The European Commissioner responsible for the EU budget and finance has not managed to tackle the challenges posed to Europe and has not prevent the downturn, though she has both influence and power," Prunskiene noted.

The signatory rhetorically asked whether the running for president was not a way to avoid responsibility for the work done or undone in Brussels. "It reminds me of leaving a sinking ship. A responsible official leaves her post in the very middle of the crisis, though the captain usually abandons the ship last. And Brussels does not ask Eurocommissioner Grybauskaite to stay in her post. Does this silence of the heads of the European Commission mean that the European commissioner has not met their expectations?" the candidate for president pondered.

Prunskiene thinks that Grybauskaite's competence is only an image insistently presented to the people. According to her, it is revealed by her support for the Government led by Andrius Kubilius.