TALLIN, May 31 (RIA Novosti) - A political crisis is threatening to embroil Lithuania after the Labor Party and its five ministers resigned from the government Wednesday.
"The current political situation in Lithuania is unacceptable for us because the president is trying to interfere with the work of the government and parliament," said Zilvinas Padaiga, the departing health minister.
The government now comprises only Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas's Social Democratic Party and the Peasants and New Democratic Party Union.
Police searched the Labor Party's office last week on suspicion of double-entry bookkeeping and receiving funds from Russia's secret services, which party leader Viktor Uspaskich called a politically motivated claim.
President Valdas Adamkus said Tuesday he did not trust Padaiga and Culture Minister Vladimiras Prudnikovas and doubted the Cabinet could carry on working effectively.
Adamkus proposed that the Seimas (parliament) hold a vote on confidence in the ministers of health, culture, justice, economy and internal affairs.
Problems in the country's government began in April when the Seimas removed Speaker Arturas Paulauskas, a member of the New Union party (social liberals), which left the government coalition after that.
