Lithuania's Envoy Withdraws from European Commissioner Bid
- Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuania's top envoy, drops bid to become European commissioner.
- The country's president blocked Landsbergis' plan to move to Brussels.
- Lithuania facing changes in its representation at the European level.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has officially withdrawn his candidacy for the European Commissioner position, a move announced on Saturday that highlights a significant rift with President Gitanas Nausėda. Despite receiving backing from prominent figures such as Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė and European People’s Party President Manfred Weber, Nausėda has declined to support Landsbergis's ambitions, prompting the foreign minister to step back from the race. In a statement on social media platform X, Landsbergis expressed his disappointment but reaffirmed his commitment to serving Lithuania and supporting Ukraine. He emphasized his intention to continue contributing to Europe’s future through other avenues and has requested that Šimonytė propose an alternative candidate for the European Commission role. Landsbergis gained international recognition following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, advocating for increased Western support for Kyiv. His withdrawal comes at a critical time as Lithuania aims to secure an EU portfolio focused on membership enlargement, a priority for Ukraine in the coming years. The deadline for EU member states to nominate candidates for the European Commission is August 30, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the Commission. The ongoing political tensions in Lithuania may impact the country’s representation in the EU, particularly in light of the strategic importance of the upcoming nominations.