"I don't feel the 'Obama' of Central Europe"

Dalia Grybauskaite, economist at 53, not even a month has been installed at the presidential palace in Vilnius (Lithuania) but she has managed to at least show that it is serious. He said she would cut costs and started for his salary, which halved. But after the cuts have come to the officials and all kinds of expenses. Their determination coupled with small gestures such as his official car stops at traffic lights to Grybauskaite can win the trust of many, something essential in a country which has fallen 15% this year. The slump in economic activity surpasses that of its neighboring Latvia, forced to tap new IMF aid to avoid bankruptcy. But Grybauskaite, former European commissioner and a black belt in karate, does not want outside help. Although certainly need more than gestures to treat more complicated with its neighbor, Russia. Text I published in EL MUNDO, (in spanish) here

-Just as happened in Latvia, once a woman ruling a country in Central Europe, and again he succeeds without the support of a political party.
-It's a trend in the new EU members, who have suffered a major political transformation. In any case it is uncommon for a woman governs a country, there are only seven in the world and Lithuania never happened, although the former president also was related to a political party.

-But he was very involved in the secession of Lithuania in the 90's. And you don't.
-Everybody is different. It has been 20 years since that and probably more people are looking forward rather than backward. I do not want to evaluate why they trusted me, but the devaluation of the quality of politicians I think that was one reason.

-Woman, single, no children. Why people just need things done in the personal life of a politician when is a woman?
-Women are starting, but in Europe is becoming commonplace. Somehow most interesting results to discuss us, I notice that people talk about the clothes on my man and if only speak of what I do.

-Does you feel like the Obama of Central Europe?
-I have never had this news not compare myself to anyone, every political leader is different. And my country do not regard as central Europe but as a country of northern Europe.

- Are you a feminist?
-Depends on what we call a feminist. I've never participated in any of those movements.

-Your predecessor, Valdas Adamkus, didn't had good relations with Russia, and you have advocated a more pragmatic stance. What will change?
-I never said "pragmatic", that was an interpretation of my words. What I have always said is we have to have a constructive dialogue with our neighbors, of course without sacrificing our values.

- What will you do if Russia is to condition the position of Lithuania through the price of energy?
-I've said that some values are not negotiable.

-You are not the first, they tried other presidents before and this new relationship with Russia was not possible.
-Now all countries are in difficulties, Russia too. And both there and here there are political forces that seek to divert attention from problems for a common enemy. We are showing goodwill, and from there we'll see. Russia expect mutual respect based on our values.

-And meanwhile Europe remains wihout a common energy policy.
-The EU has never had a common position on energy, not on the treaties. It is more a necessity, a trend. But coordination is necessary to reflect the quality of EU integration, and if no agreement will be split and supply difficulties, and that includes Russia. But the joint efforts to ensure the supply were very important and very visible after the conflict between Russia and Ukraine last winter. It is an evidence that such coordination is important, but still a long way to go.

-The global crisis may be triggered by lack of regulation, but in the European elections have won just more liberal positions.
-It's a unique phenomenon. A lack of international intervention in financial markets has created many problems for the world, hence the stresses in the financial sector. This means that international regulatory organizations like the IMF or the World Bank need to be radically reformed and already lagging behind in this process. But in each member country the situation is quite different. After the election we can say that European governments were able to center the most votes, which is very unusual in a downturn. But it is also a sign that the ideological barriers are falling, at least in my country. The political powers do not behave in a purely ideological: some more leftist governments to protect companies and other center-right people are protecting more than the Social Democrats, at least in my country. The ideological differences are being dissolved by what leaders do.

-It seems that this crisis makes the euro more attractive to both Lithuania and more inaccessible.
-Yes, because for me the euro is not just a currency but monetary discipline that prevents governments are populist tax policy and this is a guarantee for the stability of countries. But certainly in a slowdown situation will be very difficult to achieve in the next three years because of the stability pact criteria are stringent. But if there were no euro in Europe would be worse off.

-Your country has benefited from European cohesion funds. But you refuse to seek help from the "rescue funds" from the IMF.
-There are no bailout funds. There are funds that can borrow, but with many conditions.
In practice, this means you are leaving for an outsider to dictate your entire economic policy because the government does not know how to deal with the situation. I do not want my country to be treated as if it were not capable of governing. We know what we do: we are cutting public spending on wages, investing in infrastructure to stimulate the economy. We are sinking and need outside help, we can rescue ourselves.

- Is it possible to go further enlargement of NATO?
-Probably yes but I prefer quality to quantity, not only to expand expand. But it's something everyone has in mind, also in the EU, which wants to enter Iceland.

-But every time a former member of the USSR into Russia is angry.
-Nobody can dictate to NATO and develop.

- Do you think that after the fiasco of the European Constitution EU is more difficult to catch up beyond the Lisbon Treaty?
-The treaty of Lisbon is a small step forward, talks about how to make decisions but does not reform. We must make reforms in the budget and review common policies and all or that determines the quality of integration.

-You've been commissioner of the Budget. As a Lithuanian citizen have you got the feeling of arriving in the EU when there is less desire to redistribute to those with less?
-For new members the EU is not just money, but political, security and freedom of movement. Of 27 members, 21 are still receiving. But for us it was not just money but freedom.

-The Lithuanians were not just as enthusiastic of the EU in June. It was the country where fewer people voted.
-In Lithuania has always been low participation in European elections. It is a question of political culture and lack of information, plus the votes were weeks after the presidential election. But somehow the everyday people at home, not in Brussels or Strasbourg.