Former Minister A. Palionis and his political team are to be paid 94,000 euros. Who received what, and how much?

Following the change of government, the Minister for Agriculture, who had been delegated by “Nemuno aušra” and had completed his term of office, Andrius Palionis did not receive a severance payment. The Ministry of Agriculture (ŽŪM) explained that severance pay is not payable in such cases.

“Minister A. Palionis was not paid severance pay (the Government Act does not provide for this if the Government resigns by adopting a resolution on the Prime Minister’s proposal),” – the ministry stated.

However, the minister was paid €11,667.93 (gross) in financial compensation for unused annual leave and other time added to his annual leave. However, even more money was paid out to other political appointees team members.

To the political team – €34,000 in severance pay

At the same time, four members of the political (personal) trust team were paid severance pay equivalent to one month’s average salary. The largest severance payments were awarded to Deputy Minister Gediminas Tamašauskis – 9,107.17 euros – and Deputy Minister Ramūnas Krugelis – 9,100.49 euros.

Severance payments equivalent to one month’s average salary were also paid to the minister’s advisers Genadijus Vorobjovas (€8,238.79) and Darjuš Puchovič (€7,561.21). G. Vorobjov unsuccessfully sought a seat in the Seimas under the banner of "Nemuno aušra". D. Puchovič is also a member of the “Nemuno aušra” party. 

A total of 34,007.66 euros (gross) has been allocated for severance pay to members of the political leadership team. Meanwhile, no severance payments were allocated to Deputy Ministers Valdemaras Liorenšaitis and Rolandas Taraškevičius. 

“Severance pay is paid in accordance with the law, based on the average salary of the specific civil servant,” – noted the Ministry of Agriculture, adding that R. Taraškevičius remained in post as part of the new political team following the change of government, and was therefore paid only compensation for unused holiday entitlement and additional days off. V. Liorenšaitis was not entitled to a severance payment because he held office for less than half the term of the government minister who appointed him.

Deputy Minister R. Taraškevičius is also working in the team of the current minister, Kęstutis Mažeika.

A further sum of more than 50,000 euros – for holiday compensation

In addition to severance pay, the minister and some members of the political appointee team were paid monetary compensation for unused annual leave and other time added to their annual leave.

The largest payments were made to Deputy Ministers Ramūnas Krugelis (€12,562.97) and Gediminas Tamašauskis (€12,481.68), whilst Minister Andrius Palionis, as mentioned earlier, received €11,667.93.

A total of €50,043.83 (gross) was paid out in compensation for unused annual leave and other time added to annual leave.

„“Financial compensation for unused annual leave and other time added to annual leave was paid out based on the amount each individual had accrued and not taken,” – the ministry states.

Person	Severance pay (gross) in EUR	Holiday pay (gross) (EUR)	Total (gross) (EUR)
Andrius Palionis	-	11,667.93	11,667.93
Deputy Minister R. Krugelis	9,100.49	12,562.97	21,663.46
Deputy Minister G. Tamašauskis	9,107.17	12,481.68	21,588.85
Deputy Minister V. Liorenšaitis	-	2,555.35	2,555.35
Deputy Minister R. Taraškevičius	-	9,722.47	9,722.47
Minister’s Adviser G. Vorobjovas	8,238.79	8,792.31	17,031.1
Minister’s Adviser D. Puchovič	7,561.21	1,983.59	9,544.8
Total			93,773.96