This Monday Lithuania is talking about three events.  The start of the European basketball Championship in Poland, arrest of one of the most famous Mafioso Daktaras and last but not the least, will the Seimas’ Speaker Valinskas announce about resignation today.

On 5 September Valinskas announced that he will make a statement about his further intentions in politics and life on this Monday.  Media and political establishment is puzzled for two weeks already; will Valinskas go, will he stay.  At least one of the opinion poll indicates that Mr Speaker is the least popular politician in Lithuania.  The allegations that he was socialising with a member of Daktarai criminal group who’s fugitive leader was caught in Bulgaria last week, certainly did not add to his popularity.  The most popular politician President Grybauskaite has already openly advised the Speaker to resign.

However, it seems that the Speaker has decided to stay, and go Va Bank with Parliament on 10 September, once Parliament will convene for its Autumn session.  Today, the speaker have met with opposition parties’ leaders and confirmed to them that he will be delighted to ‘check his popularity’ in Seimas. 

The Chairman of the Opposition Social Democrat party Butkevicius commented on the public radio after today’s meeting with the Speaker; ‘The parliamentary speaker said he doesn’t intend to resign and will hold on with what he’s worth when the issue is addressed in the Seimas.’

The Chairman of the Opposition Labour party Mr Gapsys, after meeting the Speaker mentioned that the result of the vote of no-confidence is in the hands of the ruling parties, especially of the Conservative party.  He said to the public radio that; ‘…we would still like to know what the conservatives think as well as the ruling coalition’s partners… I wonder if they’re happy with the parliament speaker they have.’ 

Mr Gapsys also added that Valinskas will issue a video statement this evening about his further intentions.  Hence, show will go on; Valinskas, Basketball and the pictures of unconscious  Mafioso Daktaras, who passed out during his arrest – all cocktail in one evening!  The holiday season in Lithuania has finished.

The Prime Minister Kubilius stated today that ‘I have always said that he (Mr Valinskas) has to decide on the current situation myself, to take into consideration public and President’s and the coalition partners’ opinion and have to decide himself.  He should also evaluate to what extent he will be able to perform his duties in the current situation “.