During Question Time in the Seimas, when Liberal MP Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen asked Sinkevičius about the finance minister’s future in his post, he replied with a touch of black humour, prompting Valys himself to offer nothing more than an awkward smile.
‘It is clear that the draft budget, the impending deficit, and the burden on the coming years and future generations are the issues causing the greatest concern at present. And, in one way or another, they are linked to Minister Valys, who is sitting to your right.
Already, some of your colleagues are hinting – or perhaps even saying outright – that Mr Valys’s days are numbered, and that this is linked to the adoption of this budget, and that you intend to part ways with him afterwards. The minister has undoubtedly had a tough job – how do you feel about this situation? Are you looking for scapegoats, or do you still, in some way, have faith in the minister’s ability to manage the state’s finances?“ asked Čmilytė-Nielsen.
Sinkevičius replied rather vividly.
„It’s actually hard to say how many days and hours God has still granted each of us. I think and believe that we will pass the budget, that no one will end up either with Saint Peter or at Santaros Hospital, and that perhaps this emotional turmoil will subside.
Yes, putting humour – perhaps a bit of black humour – aside, the financial situation is tense. Still, we, just like you, understand the seriousness of the situation and are not disregarding it. I am certainly concerned about the financial situation, and I know what steps are being taken,“ explained the prime minister.
According to Sinkevičius, Lithuania is „no exception“ in Europe, and neighbouring countries are reportedly facing similar financial pressures.
„We are taking these seriously and thinking about the long-term outlook, about how we can return to fiscal sustainability. This will take time; it will require not only political ambition but also political will. And I want to believe that throughout this whole process, the man to my right will be my pillar of support, my ally, and the initiator and facilitator of these processes and decisions in discussions with the Seimas,“ said Sinkevičius.
The prime minister's response in the Seimas chamber made even the finance minister himself feel somewhat uncomfortable – sitting next to him, he smiled wryly.
Valys was admitted to Santaros Clinics at the end of October, where he spent about a week.
„Thank you, I’ve recovered (I feel – Lrytas) better than I did last week. I hope it won’t be that bad again,“ said Valys.
„The advice is to have less stress and fewer nerves. Unfortunately, I can’t promise that I’ll manage to avoid that, but we’ll try. I’ve drawn some conclusions,“ he assured.
The politician admitted that he ended up in the doctors’ care due to a heart problem.
„I was experiencing discomfort in my chest. But now I hope that… You know, I trust the doctors; the tests have been carried out, and I’ve reached a certain state of calm. I hope that will be enough for now, and that it won’t get any worse,“ said Valys.