VILNIUS, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis announced on Tuesday that he will continue to head the government after the inauguration of the country's new president in order to ensure the "effective and professional" work of the renewed cabinet.
"Taking into account the formation of the ruling coalition, the current political situation and the need to continue the work, after speaking with the president-elect I decided to return the government's mandate to the president-elect and to continue forming the new cabinet," Skvernelis told reporters after his meeting with Lithuania's newly elected president, Gitanas Nauseda.
Under the law on the president, on the day when the president-elect of the country assumes office, the government of the Republic of Lithuania formally returns its mandate to the president.
Nauseda will be inaugurated on July 12 and will replace incumbent President Dalia Grybauskaite. Nauseda had earlier expressed his support for Skvernelis if he decided to continue heading the government.
Skvernelis participated in Lithuania's presidential elections back in May and, following his defeat, he said he would resign.
On Tuesday, Skvernelis described his earlier statement about his possible departure as a "purely emotional" decision.
"I can acknowledge once again that I was defeated in the presidential election. My statement (about the resignation) was purely emotional, perhaps I should not have said it right then, on the election night," he said.
Skvernelis did not make it into the runoff vote and finished third in the presidential race.
He did not comment on possible changes in the renewed cabinet.
"After the new president assumes his duties on July 12, consultations on this issue will begin," said Skvernelis.
Last week, representatives of four Lithuanian parliamentary parties -- the Farmers and Greens Union, the Social Democratic Labour Party, the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania-Christian Families Alliance and the Order and Justice party -- signed a memorandum on a renewed center-left coalition. Enditem
