Povilas Poderskis, who is set to leave his post as environment minister to become the ministry’s chancellor, signed an order expanding the powers of that role.
Under the revised job description, the chancellor will assume responsibility for strategic communication from the minister and take over housing sustainability and accessibility issues – except housing purchase and rental support – from one of the vice ministers.
The chancellor will also oversee nearly all subordinate institutions of the Environment Ministry, including the Environmental Projects Management Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, the State Territorial Planning and Construction Inspectorate, the National Land Service, the Environmental Protection Department, the Lithuanian Geological Survey, the State Forest Service, the state-owned enterprise Valstybinių Miškų Urėdija, and the Construction Sector Development Agency.
Newly appointed Environment Minister Kastytis Žuromskas said the expanded powers were temporary, citing a shortage of vice ministers as the ministry reshuffles its leadership.
“This structure is not final and can be changed by ministerial order,” Žuromskas said. “But for now, everything has been arranged rationally, looking to the future, to integrate people more quickly and ensure ongoing work is not disrupted.”
Poderskis himself has refused to give a comment, saying he is on a break until Monday when he starts in the new position.
Former Environment Minister Simonas Gentvilas, a Liberal, said ministry chancellors usually serve as administrators, but in this case, policy-making responsibilities were also assigned. According to him, this effectively means Poderskis will continue acting as environment minister.
Nemunas Dawn, the political group responsible for the ministry, had proposed keeping Poderskis as environment minister in the reshaped government. However, President Gitanas Nausėda rejected the nomination, citing doubts that public interest in the sector would be safeguarded.
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