(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, FEB 18 - EU Commissioner for Health and Food
Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis, responsible for the vaccine
dossiers and Xylella, has decided to run for the presidential
elections in Lithuania. He will, therefore, take an unpaid leave
from April 1 to May 13, which can be extended until May 27 in
the event of a run-off. During his absence, he will be replaced
ad interim by the European Commission Vice-President for Jobs,
Growth, Investment, and Competitiveness, Jyrki Katainen, the
Chief spokesperson of the European Commission, Margaritis
Schinas announced. ''I made my decision: I accepted to be the
official candidate of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party for
the presidency of Lithuania'', Andriukaitis tweeted, saying ''I
am aware that this will require balance and sacrifice''. In the
meantime, however, he made it clear that he will work ''100% on
issues that are included in my health and food safety portfolio
until the end of March''. The first round of the presidential
elections in Lithuania will be held on May 12. Outgoing
President Dalia Grybauskaite is completing her second term (that
began in 2014). Before being elected president in 2009, she was
the first EU commissioner for Lithuania between 2004 and 2009,
under the Barroso-led Commission. (ANSA). .
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