The not-yet-re-elected head of state, Nausėda, is already measuring the Prime Minister's chair for Blinkevičiūtė, although the Seimas elections are still a few months away.
„Other people can fill these positions, but if the elections are successful for this party (...), I will try to persuade Ms Blinkevičiūtė to take up this responsible and important position,“ the President said last week.
For her part, Ms Blinkevičiūtė thanked the President for his support but did not say whether she would seek the post of Prime Minister.
It has been said behind the scenes of politics for some time that Ms Blinkevičiūtė, seeking a seat in the European Parliament (MEP) again, would prefer to continue working in Brussels for a much higher salary and less media attention.
„It is too early to put on our crowns and elect prime ministers or premiers. First of all, we need Nausėda to win the presidential elections“, Blinkevičiūtė reiterated on Thursday when asked by Rimvydas Paleckis, a journalist on the Lithuania Direct (Lietuva Tiesiogiai) programme on the Lietuvos Rytas television channel, whether she would seek to become the Head of the Government.
According to the MEP, it is one thing to want to and another to be able to.
„I am a very experienced politician; I have eaten a lot of salt. As I have said, I will not put on crowns in advance because it could end badly. I will do everything that depends on me, as the party chair, to ensure that the people trust me to make the best decisions for the people of Lithuania,“ she evaded.
Blinkevičiūtė was then asked once again whether she could become Prime Minister if the Social Democrats had the opportunity to form the Government.
„I believe that many of us could do it, including myself, of course, but I think there are others who are also capable,“ explained the politician.
The Social Democrat leader also did not give a specific answer to the question of whether she would lead the party's list in the parliamentary elections, which her comrades have requested for some time. Blinkevičiūtė is the most popular politician among the Social Democrats.
„No, I don't rule it out,“ Blinkevičiūtė replied when asked whether she did not rule out such a possibility. – On 15 June, everything will be clear.“
She assured me that, at the moment, she was still „in discussions.“
„I may, but I may not. I will not say anything today. Today, I will say yes and no,“ Blinkevičiūtė cut in when the presenter asked whether the MEP could lead the LSDP list to the Seimas.
The LSDP Chairwoman urged us not to lose sight of the events—first of all, we should concentrate on the presidential and EP elections.
Asked whether President Nausėda's words that she should take responsibility for forming the Cabinet of Ministers obliged her, Blinkevičiūtė did not immediately agree.
„First, I am very grateful to the President for the message and the trust. All the other parties are lying, who say there is no need to say it here; it is too early... And I am grateful because this is an appreciation of us, the Social Democratic Party.
And it is binding. It shows that it is a severe party. The President travels around Lithuania often; he sees people's expectations and desires,“ she said.
Paleckis again asked Blinkevičiūtė whether she would not rule out the possibility of becoming Prime Minister.
„Dear Rimvydas, please do not corner me. You will not succeed. I have plenty of strength,“ stated the Social Democratic leader.
„I will not answer. You see, you say one sentence, I say one sentence,“ she replied when he tried to ask the same question again.
When the journalist pointed out that not answering a question is also an answer, Blinkevičiūtė agreed.
„Of course, here is good, here is right,“ the politician smiled.
