Dalia Grybauskaitė's office has declined to comment on claims made by former politician Eligijus Masiulis regarding political pressure from the 'MG Baltic' group during her presidential campaign.
Former Lithuanian politician Eligijus Masiulis, currently serving a sentence for political corruption, has released a memoir titled 'White Collars Unleashed'. In an excerpt obtained by BNS, he claims that during the 2014 presidential campaign, Dalia Grybauskaitė sought to collaborate with Darius Mockus, the then-owner of the 'MG Baltic' group, to ensure favorable media coverage. Masiulis mentions that Grybauskaitė invited him to the presidential palace for discussions amid fears from her administration about a possible investigation by the opposition Social Democratic Party, which had concerns over her performance in office.
Grybauskaitė's office responded to queries from the press by stating, 'Thank you for the question. The answer: No comment.' This response indicates an unwillingness by her administration to address Masiulis' claims. The public's reaction to these assertions could potentially influence perceptions of Grybauskaitė's presidency as well as political narratives related to media influence and corruption in Lithuanian politics.
The release of Masiulis' book and its coinciding presentation at the Vilnius Book Fair brings fresh scrutiny to Grybauskaitė's past amidst ongoing discussions about political ethics in Lithuania. As the situation unfolds, it could lead to increased public discourse on the intersection of media, politics, and the accountability of those in positions of power in Lithuania.
