President Gitanas Nausėda’s team is coordinating the nomination of Brigadier General Raimundas Vaikšnoras as Lithuania’s next chief of defence.
The president’s team has presented his candidacy to parliamentary groups, representatives from four different political groups in the Seimas have confirmed to BNS.
If preliminary approval is obtained, Nausėda will sign a decree officially nominating Vaikšnoras for the post of chief of defence.
On Tuesday, Frederikas Jansonas, the president’s senior advisor, confirmed that Vaikšnores will be nominated for chief of defence.
“Yes, this is the candidate chosen by the president. At the moment, the nomination is being coordinated with the Seimas groups,” Jansonas told Žinių Radijas radio.
The brigadier general is currently serving as deputy chief of staff for military training at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE).
He has in the past served as commander of the Lithuanian Land Force, the force’s deputy chief of staff for operations, chief of the Operations Department of the Defence Staff, and commander of the Iron Wolf brigade.
The five-year term of office of General Valdemaras Rupšys, the incumbent chief of defence, is set to expire in July.
According to the Lithuanian constitution, the president appoints and dismisses the chief of defence with the parliament’s approval.
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