Brussels, 18/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - The current Budget Commissioner, Dalia Grybauskaite, has been elected President of Lithuania, in the first round of voting on Sunday 17 May. Having won nearly 70% of the votes cast, she will take over from Valdas Adamkus, the President of the country for the last 10 years. Ms Grybauskaite received the congratulations of the President of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso, who paid tribute to her "impressive electoral victory", which "reflects the strong confidence placed in you by the Lithuanian citizens".
As her election leave ended on Monday 18 May, Ms Grybauskaite had to resume her duties (taken over during her absence by her colleague with responsibility for administration, audit and the fight against fraud, Siim Kallas). A decision as to who will take over from her within the College of Commissioners will be taken once her election has been validated (her investiture is scheduled for 12 July). Contacts between President Barroso and the Lithuanian authorities will then take place to appoint a replacement for the outgoing Commissioner for the remaining mandate of the Commission (article 215 of the EC Treaty), according to a spokesperson.
Since Monday 18 May, three further Commissioners have been on election leave. Commissioner Meglena Kuneva (consumer protection), who is standing for the European elections in Bulgaria, will be replaced for her three weeks of election leave by her counterpart with responsibility for health, Androulla Vassiliou. Danuta Hübner (regional policy) will be replaced temporarily by Vladimir Spidla (employment, social affairs and equal opportunities) and Viviane Reding (information society), who is head of Luxembourg's list of Christian Democrats in the European elections, by Jacques Barrot (justice, liberty and security). From the evening of Tuesday 19 May, by Louis Michel, whose portfolio (development and humanitarian aid) will be taken over temporarily by Olli Rehn (enlargement). (A.B./transl.fl)